Shaquille O’Neal said he would intentionally get in foul trouble in Denver so he could avoid battling the mile-high atmosphere. During the Nuggets-Spurs game on TNT on Tuesday, Shaq revealed that he would “foul shave” in the Mile High City. "I used to be so tired I couldn't breathe… I was struggling." –@SHAQ relives battling the […]

Raptors 115 (40-16), Heat 112 (30-27) The Raps just keep rolling at home. They used a monster third quarter to overcome a slow start and build a lead that would hold, albeit barely, for the rest of the night. Kyle Lowry breaking out the HORSE buzzer-beater 😂😂 (via @TheRenderNBA) pic.twitter.com/a7yXiGL4Te — SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) February […]

Toronto led by 17 at the end of three and looked poised to run away with this one, but the Heat didn’t go away. Miami used a furious 16-2 run to make this one a game and cut the deficit to 114-112 with under seven seconds to go on a Wayne Ellington three. After C.J. Miles split a pair of free throws, the Heat had a chance to send this one to overtime but Josh Richardson‘s heave hit off the back rim.

The revamped Cavs have only played two games with each other but, so far, they’re making GM Koby Altman look like a genius. Cleveland was in control basically from start to finish and got contributions from the whole roster. LeBron (37 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) did LeBron things but it was the play of JR Smith (18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three) and some of the new pickups that allowed Cleveland to hold off the Thunder.

There’s no doubt this Cavs team is more dedicated on the defensive end than the pre-deadline Cavs were, and also just seems to be having more fun. It also helps that they got a lot younger and much more athletic. Oklahoma City got 21+ points from each of the Core Four of Russ (also had 12 assists), PG, Melo and Steven Adams (had 17 rebounds) but only had 20 points from the rest of the roster.

Bucks 97 (32-24), Hawks 92 (18-40)

It wasn’t the most impressive W for the Bucks, who almost blew a 13-point fourth quarter lead, but it kept Milwaukee’s strong play under interim head coach Joe Prunty going. The Bucks have won nine of their last 11 games, with the hot stretch starting the day Jason Kidd was fired.

When James Harden scores 34 points, dishes out 13 assists and commits only one turnover, the Rockets are almost unstoppable. The Timberwolves experienced that firsthand. Houston popped 22 threes on just 47 attempts, with both Harden and Ryan Anderson hitting 6 triples apiece. Also, as Rockets GM Daryl Morey noted, they made history.

The game tonight was a great reminder how special this group is. A different player steps up every night. The 10 three-pointers made in the 4th quarter are an NBA record.

Minnesota, of all teams, is pretty well constructed to match up with the Rockets but even the Timberwolves couldn’t stop them tonight. The win moves Houston to within a half-game of the Warriors for the top spot in the West. Karl-Anthony Towns scored an efficient 35 points on 12-of-16 shooting (with 12 rebounds) to lead the way for the home team.

Kings 114 (18-38), Mavericks 109 (18-40)

In a lost season for the Kings, Zach Randolph has been a bright spot. The veteran forward has expanded his range significantly and keeps getting buckets as one of the elder statesman on such a young Sacramento team. His 22 points (in 26 minutes) helped the Kings build an insurmountable halftime lead. Standout rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic helped out with 19. Sacramento had a season-high 30 assists on 47 field goals.

Six Mavericks scored in double figures with J.J. Barea (19 points, 13 assists) the high man. Dwight Powell — who has seen his role increase as of late — scored 18 points for his fifth 17+ point performance in his last six games.

Nuggets 117 (31-26), Spurs 109 (35-24)

The Spurs fell victim to the dreaded “second half of a back-to-back in Denver” and just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter after playing well for 36 minutes. With LaMarcus Aldridge out until after the All-Star break and Manu Ginobili leaving the game early with a sore right foot, San Antonio just didn’t have many healthy bodies left by the end of this one.

Tony Parker (17 points) and Joffrey Lauvergne (26 points on 12-of-15 shooting with 12 rebounds) were the only two Spurs who were good from start to finish on Tuesday night, and it wasn’t enough. Another triple-double for Nikola Jokic (of the 23-13-11 variety) and 20 points from Will Barton helped put the Nuggets over the top and continue their dominance at Pepsi Center this season, with Denver improving to 23-7 at home.

Just an hour before the 3pm deadline, the New York Knicks acquired point guard Emmanuel Mudiay in a three-team trade with Denver and Dallas, per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski: Denver is trading Emmanuel Mudiay to New York, league sources tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018 Denver, New York and Dallas agreed on a three-way […]

Jazz wing Rodney Hood is reportedly drawing interest from the Thunder, Bulls and Pistons in advance of Thursday’s trade deadline. According to the Salt Lake Tribune‘s Tony Jones, the Magic and Nuggets have also shown “at least a passing interest in Hood.” With the trade deadline coming up in a few days, here is what's […]

The Denver Nuggets have reportedly discussed the possibility of trading for Marcus Smart with the Celtics. According to the NYT’s Marc Stein, Boston is holding out for a first-round pick in exchange for Smart. Denver is among the teams that has explored Marcus Smart trade scenarios with Boston, according to league sources. Emmanuel Mudiay has […]

According to the NYT’s Marc Stein, Boston is holding out for a first-round pick in exchange for Smart.

Denver is among the teams that has explored Marcus Smart trade scenarios with Boston, according to league sources. Emmanuel Mudiay has been made available, sources say, but the Celts covet a first-round pick for Smart

Clippers 113 (26-25), Bulls 103 (18-34) Tobias Harris, in his first game as a Clipper, and Danilo Gallinari each scored 24 points to fend off the pesky Bulls. Chicago hung around thanks to 21 points from Zach LaVine, but they couldn’t get over the hump and have now lost six straight games. Pistons 111 (25-26), […]

Tobias Harris, in his first game as a Clipper, and Danilo Gallinari each scored 24 points to fend off the pesky Bulls. Chicago hung around thanks to 21 points from Zach LaVine, but they couldn’t get over the hump and have now lost six straight games.

Pistons 111 (25-26), Heat 107 (29-24)

Andre Drummond showed up big time today, registering 23 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The Pistons were able to overcome nine ties and eight lead changes, as well as a 33-point performance from first-time All-Star Goran Dragic. Ish Smith scored 25 points and Blake Griffin, in his second game with Detroit, added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

Five Wizards scored in double-figures. Washington, now winners of four straight, built a 24-point lead by dishing out 35 assists.

Rockets 120 (38-13), Cavs 88 (30-21)

Chris Paul had 22 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds. And while that’s not the most insane stat line, the 32-year-old dominated the entire game. He started by hitting his first four three-pointers and went on to completely control the tempo, carving up the Cavs’ defense at every chance he got.

Ricky Rubio was blazing hot in the first half, scoring 23 points. He wound up with 34 for the game as the Jazz successfully fought off a furious Spurs comeback in the second half.

Nuggets 115 (28-25), Warriors 108 (41-12)

Will Barton had 25 points, leading the way for five Nuggets that all scored at least 15 points. Denver outscored GSW 38-25 in the fourth quarter. Barton and Jamal Murray combined to score 18 of those fourth quarter points. They knocked off the Warriors one game after beating the Thunder.

Mavs 106 (17-36), Kings 99 (16-36)

The Mavs held the Kings to just 14-fourth quarter points. Harrison Barnes had 18 points, JJ Barea had 11 assists and Dwight Powell pulled down 9 rebounds in the win.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/russell-westbrook-shoves-taunting-nuggets-fan/feed/02018 NBAEDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Gary Harris Beats OKC at the Buzzerhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/gary-harris-beats-okc-buzzer/
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Harris’ first-career buzzer-beater was the latest signature moment in a terrific fourth season in which he has morphed into Denver’s leading scorer (17.4 points per game), maintained his defensive prowess on the perimeter (1.9 steals per game) and blossomed as a more vocal leader.

“I knew (Westbrook) was running at me,” Harris said. “But I was just focused on hitting the shot.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/gary-harris-beats-okc-buzzer/feed/02018 NBAEDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after hitting the game winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Report: Denver Nuggets Interested In Darren Collisonhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/report-nuggets-interested-darren-collison/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/report-nuggets-interested-darren-collison/#respondThu, 01 Feb 2018 20:00:22 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=476889

The Nuggets are reportedly on the market for a veteran point guard, with Indiana’s Darren Collison at the top of their wish list, according to USA Today‘s Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt: …Denver will likely make a move of its own before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, as the Nuggets are known to be shopping for a veteran […]

…Denver will likely make a move of its own before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, as the Nuggets are known to be shopping for a veteran point guard who could allow Will Barton to return to his super sixth man role. According to two people with knowledge of the situation, they have serious interest in the Indiana Pacers’ Darren Collison (12.8 points, 5.3 assists per game as a starter) but have, thus far, been rebuffed. Collison, whose Pacers (28-23) are fighting to hold onto a playoff spot, has a team option worth $10 million on his deal for next season. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because trade talks aren’t typically discussed publicly.

At 26-25, Denver currently holds the No. 8 seed in the West, but the season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins and the trade of Blake Griffin to the Pistons increases their odds of securing a playoff spot significantly.

The Magic entered Tuesday night on a seven-game losing streak, having won just once since December 6th. The Timberwolves entered the evening on a five-game winning streak. Of course, Orlando wound up getting a much-needed W with a strong fourth quarter, a career-high 32 points from Evan Fournier and Khem Birch’s first career double-double. Jimmy Butler (28 points) led Minnesota in the loss.

Orlando’s triumph almost overshadowed the game’s second quarter fireworks, which resulted from Arron Afflalo taking a swing at Nemanja Bjelica on a rebound attempt. Bjelica then put him in a headlock before both benches spilled onto the floor. Both players were immediately ejected and probably will face suspensions. You never know what you’re gonna see when you watch a NBA game.

New Orleans controlled this one most of the way, thanks to another monster game from Anthony Davis (45 points, 16 rebounds), and led by 10 at the break but a 16-6 Celtics run to start the second half evened things up quickly. The same thing happened in the fourth quarter, when Boston was actually able to push ahead with just a few minutes left to play.

Anthony Davis dropped 45 points and 16 rebounds tonight and 48 points and 17 rebounds on Sunday. Man is playing 2K against these defenses. pic.twitter.com/8HswARRog9

After a Jrue Holiday (23 points, 7 assists) triple made it 101 apiece, AD and Kyrie Irving (27 points) went back and forth until a Kyrie layup with 11 seconds remaining forced overtime. The extra frame went back-and-forth until a pair of Jrue jumpers gave New Orleans the lead for good. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the C’s.

Nuggets 105 (23-21), Mavericks 102 (15-30)

Perfect example of a final score not really capturing what went on in a game. The Nuggets dominated Dallas almost from the opening tip but a massive late letdown (in the form of a 19-4 run for the Mavericks) nearly resulted in one of the worst losses you could imagine. A Dennis Smith Jr. (25 points on 18 shots) three-point play with 10 seconds left made it 103-102 Denver and gave the Mavs a legit chance to finish off the comeback.

However, they struggled to get the foul down on the ensuing possession and once Gary Harris (25 points) made his free throws, time was almost up. Dallas’ Christian Laettner-like heave failed and the Nuggets eked out a victory. Nikola Jokic (29 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists) posted another ridiculous line while Will Barton added 22 points.

Trail Blazers 118 (23-21), Suns 111 (16-29)

Imagine if the Suns were (1) healthy and (2) able to surround Devin Booker with a solid supporting cast. He dropped a casual 43-point, 6-rebound, 8-assist night while the rest of the Phoenix starting lineup managed just 28 points. A big halftime deficit put the Suns out of this one until late, when Booker caught fire and kept Phoenix hanging around long enough to force Terry Stotts to put his own starters back in.

For Portland, the formula was the same as it usually is: ride Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They combined to score 58 on 37 shots and the Suns had absolutely no way to stop them. Al-Farouq Aminu (14 points and 9 rebounds) made some big corner threes down the stretch to help maintain the lead.

“I’ve been saying this all year,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after it was over. “I’m hoping everyone is recognizing how special he is. He’s changed everything for us. Big play after big play, guards everyone. Hustle plays. Tough rebounds. Everything.”

Butler had 39 points, with 12 coming in the 5-minute overtime, seven of them from the line. He also got two huge overtime rebounds and the game-winning assist.

“Thibs, all the coaches, my teammates, they told me to keep going,” Butler said. “I was really, really locked in. That’s the scary part about it.”

His 37 points were a career best, and they came on 13-19 shooting, including 6-9 from three. But no basket was bigger than his layup in the closing seconds that lifted the Nuggets to a 111-110 win over the Bulls on Thursday.

This was Barton’s sixth game this season with at least 20 points and his first with 30-or-more. He also finished with three assists and three steals, as the Nuggets improved to 12-9 on the season. The Bulls, meanwhile, are just 3-17 and have won just once in the last three weeks.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/media/slam-tv/will-barton-game-winner-nuggets/feed/02017 NBAEDENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 30: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Chicago Bulls on November 30, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Paul Millsap Out for Up to Three Months With Wrist Surgeryhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/paul-millsap-three-months-wrist-surgery/
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Millsap suffered the injury in the Nuggets’ road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. Initial X-rays returned clean, but Millsap had further tests over the past two days that confirmed the need for surgery, league sources said.

Denver is currently 10-7 in the Western Conference standings, and Millsap’s injury is a significant blow because of his reliable production and leadership as the starting power forward.

In 16 games this season, Millsap has averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and three assists.

Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. got a text around 3:30 Monday afternoon from boss Michael Malone, informing Unseld Jr. that he would make his NBA head-coaching debut that night and requesting a meeting with the staff to finalize the game plan.

“It was kind of a scramble,” Unseld Jr. said before the game. “But at that point, (it was), ‘Alright, we have to move forward.’”

The league determined Monday that Jokic’s punishment was too severe, rescinding the ejection fine issued because he “properly received a technical foul for his actions but should not have been ejected from the game.”

Jefferson, 37, cleared waivers Monday and informed the Nuggets of his desire to join the franchise in its push to make the Western Conference playoffs, league sources said.

Nuggets president and governor Josh Kroenke enjoys a strong friendship with Jefferson, and Denver believes Jefferson can play a role with a strong rotation of forwards that include Paul Millsap, Wilson Chandler, Juan Hernangomez and Kenneth Faried.

Jefferson has played 16 NBA seasons, averaging 12.8 points for his career. He was a part of the Cavaliers’ 2015-16 NBA championship team and averaged 5.7 points in 20 minutes per game for Cleveland in the 2016-17 season.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/richard-jefferson-inks-one-year-deal-nuggets/feed/02017 NBAEDENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Richard Jefferson #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers heads out to the court before the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 22, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Gary Harris Inks Four-Year, $84 Million Extension With Nuggetshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/gary-harris-inks-four-year-84-million-extension-nuggets/
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]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/gary-harris-inks-four-year-84-million-extension-nuggets/feed/02017 NBAESACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 11: Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 11, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Kenneth Faried Prepared to Move on from Denverhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/kenneth-faried-prepared-move-denver/
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“I’ll just put it out there for everybody. I’m not a bench player. I’ve been saying that for the longest. I’m a starter,” Faried said Monday, when I asked him about his status with the Nuggets. “I love to hear the crowd (when introduced as), ‘Starting at power forward, No. 35, Kenneth Faried.’ Yes, that’s me. One hundred percent, that’s been my whole life. And I’m going to fight for a starting position. I’m just not going to lay down and let somebody take it. ”

Everyone in town, including Nuggets coach Michael Malone, anticipates Millsap, named to the All-Star Game in four consecutive seasons in Atlanta before signing a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver, will become the alpha dog on a team seeking its first playoff berth since 2013.

“There are 29 other teams,” said Faried, whose contract with the Nuggets runs through 2019. “If this team doesn’t want, or respect me enough, to play me the minutes that I think I deserve to play, then I understand that. Hey, there’s 29 others. Maybe I’ll go somewhere else and do what I need to do there. But at the same token, I’m here in Denver, and I want to play Manimal basketball, no matter what, every time I step on that court.”

The Denver Nuggets have revealed their updated uniforms for the 2017-18 NBA season. These blue and white jerseys include the Nike Swoosh and are sponsored by Western Union. Swipe through the images above for a closer look at Gary Harris rocking the new threads.

The Nuggets changed their look significantly by moving away from the sky-blue color they have used for the past 14 years. The Icon jerseys are navy blue and the Association jerseys are white. Both will be used interchangeably for home and away games.

“We can be a contender, for sure,” Arthur said of the upcoming season that will coincide with the new, darker-blue uniforms. “Right up there with Golden State.”

It would probably take a new uniform with a Superman cape attached for the Nuggets, and most other Western Conference teams, to ascend to the level of the Warriors by next season.

But as the Nuggets aim to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013 while celebrating their previous 50 seasons, with the first nine in the ABA, perhaps a new look, which features a dominant navy blue hue with only a trim of the old baby blue schemes, couldn’t hurt.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Arthur said of the recycled component of the jersey. “But these jerseys are actually really nice. They are a lot lighter than last year’s jerseys. Especially when you start sweating, it’s like you have a weight vest on. That won’t be a problem with these.”

Danilo Gallinari headlines a three-team trade that is ending Jamal Crawford’s tenure with the Clippers. ESPN reports that Gallinari agreeing to sign with the Clippers set the trade in motion.

Los Angeles, Denver and Atlanta reached agreement Tuesday night on a deal that will have the Clippers send Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone, a 2018 first-round pick previously acquired from Houstonand cash to the Hawks, league sources said.

Gallo agreed to terms on a 3-year, $65 million contract, while Crawford’s reportedly looking for a buyout.

Gallinari’s played with the Nuggets since being traded to Denver in 2011. He averaged 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds this past season. Crawford’s been a Clipper for five seasons, clocking 12.3 points per games in ’16-’17.

All-Star forward Paul Millsap reached agreement on a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver on Sunday and has been discussed in potential sign-and-trade scenarios between the Hawks and Nuggets, league sources said. It’s possible that Millsap could reach the Nuggets through a straight free-agent signing, sources said.

For the Clippers, the acquisition of Gallinari would add a potent perimeter player alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in the frontcourt.

Gallinari met with the Clippers over the weekend and came away impressed with the franchise’s direction, sources said.

Reportedly, the Cavs would also be “leading contenders” for Carmelo Anthony‘s services should he extricate himself from New York.

Per ESPN:

The Nuggets were recruited into the talks to furnish the Pacers with the combination of promising young players and draft picks that they are seeking before consenting to surrender George, whose agent, Aaron Mintz, informed Indiana management just over a week ago that George has no intention of staying with the club beyond the expiration of his current contract in June 2018.

The three teams could not agree to a final trade construction in time to complete a deal on draft night Thursday, but sources say the Cavaliers won’t abandon their trade pursuit of George, believing that acquiring the 27-year-old and George’s potentially winning a championship next season alongside LeBron James is the one scenario that could convince the two-way menace to abandon his well-chronicled desire to join the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as possible.

The Lakers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are among the teams, sources say, that also pursued George trades aggressively ‎in conjunction with the draft.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/cavs-pacers-nuggets-discussed-three-way-paul-george-trade/feed/02017 NBAECLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 17: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)Report: Chris Paul Planning To Talk To Rockets, Nuggetshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/chris-paul-talk-rockets-nuggets/
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The Clippers have recently become “nervous” about the reports that San Antonio will make a big push to get Paul and that the point guard has interest in talking to and possibly joining the Spurs, said one executive who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Paul also has plans to talk with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets, one executive said.

It was a breakout year for big man Nikola Jokic, who averaged 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. Denver’s developing star also notched six triple-doubles during the 2016-17 season.

But at just 22, The Joker knows there is room for improvement; and with the Finals still ongoing, he has already begun to put in work for 2017-18. Peep this vid of him flipping tires in his hometown of Sombor:

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nikola-jokic-already-putting-work-2017-18-nba-season/feed/0SLAMonlineNene: Carmelo Anthony Is ‘Too Selfish…He Could’ve Been The Best in the League’http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nene-carmelo-anthony-selfish-couldve-best-league/
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Tell me a little bit about Carmelo Anthony, one of the best scorers I’ve ever seen.

Nene: “Carmelo man… He’s a guy who could’ve been the best player in the League—the way he uses his body, the accuracy on his shots, the variation of dribbles and shots that he has, and his low-post fundamentals…”

He’s insane in the post. His jab step is the best in the League.

Nene: “Yeah he is simply the best down there, but he’s just too selfish. He can’t make his teammates better. If he did that, he could’ve been the best in the League. Oh, and if he played defense… Because he knows how to guard people, I played with him for 8 years, so I know.”

“That ain’t no [expletive] joke,” Martin said. “I’m going to find out who did it … put my [expletive] hands on one of y’all. I’m going to put my hands on whoever did it. You better believe that. It’s [expletive] personal. You better believe it.”

Martin, who has missed 15 games with a torn patella tendon in his left knee, threatened to boycott the postseason if he did not find out who was responsible.

“How ’bout if I don’t play in the playoffs until somebody tells me who did it,” Martin said more than once.

“It was just an April Fools joke that went horribly wrong,” said a member of the Nuggets organization who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “The kid thought it would be funny and it wasn’t. Kenyon was back at practice today and everything was fine between him and his teammates.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/kenyon-martin-nearly-beat-up-jr-smith-over-popcorn-prank/feed/02006 Getty ImagesDENVER - NOVEMBER 03: J.R. Smith #1, Kenyon Martin #6 and Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets sit on the bench as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-109 on November 3, 2006 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Post Up: Hist0ryhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-up-hist0ry-russell-westbrook/
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Russ breaks single-season triple-double record and hits game-winner, the Hawks overcome a 26-point deficit, and more.

The dagger eliminated Denver from playoff contention and gave Westbrook 50 points for the game, to go along with 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Has the Brodie locked up MVP?

Suns 124 (24-57), Mavericks 111 (32-48)

T.J. Warren and Devin Booker each scored 21 points and the Suns got the home victory over the Mavs. With a three-pointer in the final minutes, Booker passed Kobe to move into fourth on the scoring list of players before their 21st birthday (2,774).

Rockets 135 (54-26), Kings 128 (31-49)

The Beard did his thing in this one, posting his 21st triple-double (35p, 15a, 11r) and leading the Rockets to victory. As a team, Houston shot 56% from the field and hit 18 three-pointers. The Kings got 25 points and 6 rebounds from rookie power forward Skal Labissiere.

Pistons 103 (36-43), Grizzlies 90 (43-38)

It was a team effort for the Pistons, with six players scoring in double figures and no one dropping more than 14. Memphis played their reserves in the fourth quarter, as they have secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Mike Conley had a game-high 15 points.

Lakers 110 (25-55), Timberwolves 109 (31-49)

ICE IN HIS VEINS.

D’Angelo Russell spoiled ridiculous performances by Karl-Anthony Towns (40 points, 21 rebounds) and Andrew Wiggins (41 points) with a game-winning three. Apparently, Russell found out this morning that his grandmother had passed. He said he hit the shot for her.

There was a precedent for that sort of thing, of course. Twice in the previous decade, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award had been shared by two players: Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in 1995, and Elton Brand and Steve Francis five years later. The award is decided by a media vote, so it’s not as if the League itself could just choose to split the award. But if ever there was a year it would’ve have made sense, 2003-04 was it.

Instead, the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year award went to that kid from Akron, playing for his (almost) hometown Cavaliers. There was never any real argument that LeBron James didn’t deserve ROY that season; the argument was that Carmelo Anthony deserved it every bit as much. Even now, 13 years later, that argument holds up.

The No. 3 pick in the ’03 Draft (two spots behind his friend LeBron), Carmelo arrived in Denver with a championship pedigree and the hopes of a struggling franchise on his shoulders. As a freshman that spring, he’d led Syracuse on a thrilling NCAA title run. Now he was a Nugget, tasked at 19 years old with turning around a team that had stumbled to a 17-65 record the season before his arrival.

Needless to say, it was a good time for a franchise makeover, both in substance—Melo provided plenty of that—and in style. For the latter, the Nuggets completely overhauled their color scheme and jersey design, ditching the relatively subdued navy, red and gold that fans were familiar with for a shiny sky blue with bright yellow accents. It was a drastic switch, and where Carmelo Anthony was concerned, a fitting one: a bold, assertive look well suited to a bold, assertive young star.

Anthony wasted no time making those new jerseys look good—and making the Nuggets look smart for drafting him. In his NBA debut, he posted a relatively modest 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, then scored 18 and 23 in his next two games. Denver’s fifth game was a road date in Cleveland, one of the most hyped rookie matchups in NBA history. The individual battle was slightly underwhelming—LeBron had 7 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists while Melo went for 14 and 6—but the Nuggets came away with the 4-point win. Back home against the Clippers three nights later, Anthony recorded his first career 30-point game.

It would hardly be his last. That season alone, Melo topped 30 nine times, including a season-best 39 points in a February win over the Blazers. But the more important numbers were coming on the scoreboard. Led by Anthony, point guard Andre Miller and Brazilian big man Nene Hilario, the Nuggets matched the previous season’s win total three days before Christmas. Anthony’s impact on his team’s success was undeniable.

And yes, the League was taking notice. That season, for the first (and still only) time in NBA history, the conference Rookie of the Month awards went to the same players each month: LeBron James in the East, and Carmelo Anthony in the West. There wasn’t much to separate them: For the season, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Melo went for 21.0, 6.1 and 2.8 per. The only real difference? Anthony led his Nuggets to the playoffs. LeBron and the Cavs fell just short.

There’s no comparing their trophy cases at this point. But for that debut season, Carmelo was every bit LeBron’s equal. And he looked pretty good doing it, too.

Overall, eight players scored in double figures for the Nets, who have been rolling lately. This is their third straight victory, and they are a respectable 10-10 since March 1st.

Wizards 118 (47-31), Hornets 111 (36-42)

Washington trailed by 12 at the half, but stormed back in the third quarter. The highlight of their resurgence was this Bradley Beal slam.Wall had 14 of his 23 points and 6 of his 13 assists in that dominant period.

The win snapped a three-game skid for the Wizards. Kemba did work in the losing effort: 37 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.

Cavaliers 122 (50-27), Magic 102 (27-51)

LeBron posted his second straight triple-double (18p, 11r, 11a), Love and Kyrie combined for 52, and the Cavs cruised to a victory at home.

Still, it was Lance’s energy and Paul George’s big time performance (35p, 10r) that helped the Pacers overcome a 19-point first-half deficit and get a key W. They now tied for the No. 7 seed in the East with Chicago.

Nuggets 134 (37-40), Pelicans 131 (33-45)

It was a high scoring affair in New Orleans, with the Nuggets eventually securing the important victory. Gallinari led the way with 28 points.With Portland’s loss to Utah, Denver is now just 1/2 a game out of the 8th seed.

The end of regulation in this one was insane. First, Kawhi Leonard (31p, 12r) hit a step-back jumper to tie it up at 82 with 4.9 seconds remaining. Then Z-Bo (18p, 16r) connected on a 12-footer that gave Memphis the lead momentarily. And finally…

In a classic regular season showdown, Paul George and LeBron James gave fans their money’s worth; scoring over 40 points each in a game that went to double-overtime. C.J. Miles stepped up with a 27-point showing on the road, while Thad Young and Jeff Teague scored 19 and 17 points, respectively. James, who played a season-high 52 minutes in the victory, had a testy exchange with Tristan Thompson toward the game’s conclusion:

https://youtu.be/9QsLtm6NZI8

Celtics 110 (50-27), Knicks 94 (29-48)

The Celtics were dominant early and often at MSG, scoring 60 first half points en route to a comfortable win over the Derrick Rose-less Knicks. Isaiah Thomas got a full workload in just 23 minutes, scoring 19 points with six dimes. Jaylen Brown impressed in a 16-point performance, showing off the hops on this slam:

The Hornets were resilient in Sunday’s road win, staving off Russell Westbrook’s 40-point showing for their third straight victory. Backed by a 29-point effort from Kemba Walker, Charlotte is now just one game behind the Heat and Pacers for the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference. We’re sure he’d trade it for a W, but with his most recent triple-double Russell Westbrook is just one game behind Oscar Robertson for the all-time season record.

Spurs 109 (59-17), Jazz 103 (47-30)

Gregg Popovich was without Manu Ginobili, David Lee and Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green, but still found a way to pull off the victory against Rudy Gobert (19p, 14r) and the Jazz. Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker scored 25 and 21 points, respectively, in San Antonio’s seventh win in their last 10 games. Rudy Gobert, who made waves by calling out his teammates following a recent loss, took a more understanding tone after Sunday.

Tough loss today but we kept fighting until the end. Now let's go home and get ready for Tuesday. #ontothenextone

Harrison Barnes scored 15 fourth quarter points, lifting Dallas to a come-from-behind win over the Bucks. The Bucks, who have just a one game lead over Atlanta for the fifth seed, were unable to mount an offensive attack outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo (31 points, 15 rebounds).

Three Lakers had double-doubles (Thomas Robinson, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr.), while D’Angelo Russell scored 28 for an upset win over the playoff-bound Grizzlies. While Mike Conley and Troy Daniels scored 20 points apiece, David Fizdale’s squad will look to regroup before Tuesday’s match-up with San Antonio.

Raptors 113 (47-30), 76ers 105 (28-49)

The Raptors secured their ninth straight home victory thanks to 24 points from Serge Ibaka and 17p/9a from DeMar DeRozan. Toronto could certainly use Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker’s presence in the lineup, but they still managed to shoot 54.1% from the field against the rebuilding Sixers. TLC had quite a game for Philly, notching a career-high 23 points.

Nets 91 (18-59), Hawks 82 (39-38)

Yeah…this is going to be one to forget for the Hawks. With all of their starters healthy except Thabo Sefolosha and Malcolm Delaney, Atlanta shot just 37.5% in a crucial road loss. Now 2-8 over their last 10, the Hawks’ late-season skid doesn’t inspire much confidence as the playoffs near. The Nets, meanwhile, rode 29 points from Brook Lopez and 15 from Jeremy Lin in a morale-boosting W.

Bulls 117 (38-39), Pelicans 110 (33-44)

Boogie and The Brow did their thing- combining for 56 points with 29 rebounds- but Jimmy Butler was just too much, scoring 29 points in Chicago’s fourth straight W. For all of the turmoil surrounding the Bulls earlier in the season, Chicago now has a one game lead over the seventh seed, hitting their stride at just the right moment. Bobby Portis scored 21 off the bench, and Rajon Rondo continued his resurgence with a 10p/9a/9r line.

Nuggets 116 (36-40), Heat 113 (37-40)

Miami continues to lack offensive punch with Dion Waiters sidelined, as Danilo Gallinari’s 29 points led the Nuggets to a desperately needed win. The Rooster hit a pair of jumpers to give Denver the lead late in the fourth quarter, which they would hold on to until the finish.

Stephen Curry was in rare form tonight, going off for 42 points on nine 3-pointers with eight assists. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 20 points off the bench, but neither Bradley Beal nor John Wall had their best night, resulting in Washington’s third straight L.

Rockets 123 (52-25), Suns 116 (22-56)

The James Harden-less Rockets handled Phoenix with relative ease, as Lou Williams, Troy Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Eric Gordon all netted 20-plus point games. Tyler Ulis ran the Suns’ offense with a career-high 34 points, and Devin Booker contributed 27, but Earl Watson’s club is merely playing out the season, having dropped 12 straight.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-evenly-matched-lebron-paul-george-2017/feed/02017 NBAECLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 2: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers on April 2, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)Post Up: Playoffs Taking Shapehttp://www.slamonline.com/blogs/postup/post-up-playoffs-taking-shape-2017/
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Karl-Anthony Towns scored 37 points and Ricky Rubio hit three free throws with under four seconds left in regulation, giving Minnesota the edge in a come-from-behind victory. Paul George, who went off for 37 points, was none too pleased with his teammates after the game.

“To be honest, man, I don’t think I got the ball enough down the stretch,” George said. “I was pissed. That’s really the only way to sum it up. This locker room isn’t pissed off enough. There’s no urgency or winning pride right now.”

The Hawks ran into Phoenix at just the right time. Atlanta entered Tuesday having dropped each of their last seven, a streak they happily snapped against the tanking Suns. Dennis Schroder led all scorers with 27 points, and Ersan lyasova (filling in for the injured Paul Millsap) added 18.

76ers 106 (28-46), Nets 101 (16-58)

This one wasn’t pretty- neither team managed to shoot over 42.9%- but Philadelphia emerged victorious in a battle of rebuilding teams. Dario Saric and Robert Covington had 23 and 21 points, respectively, while Brook Lopez dropped 26 for Brooklyn.

Warriors 113 (60-14), Rockets 106 (51-23)

The Dubs obtained their eighth straight victory thanks to 32 points for Stephen Curry, 25 for Klay Thompson, and 19p/9r from Draymond Green. James Harden did his thing, recording an impressive 24p/13a/11r triple-double, while Clint Capela added 21. The Rockets showed grit, battling back from Golden State’s 37-point first quarter, but the damage had been done early.

Trail Blazers 122 (36-38), Nuggets 113 (35-39)

That Jusuf Nurkic trade is looking pretty good right about now. Playing against his former team, the Bosnian Beast went for a career-high 33 points with 16 rebounds. Between Nurkic’s line with C.J. McCollum‘s 39 points, and the Blazers had little trouble putting this one away in the second half (outscoring Denver 56-49). With the win, Portland claimed the eighth seed of the Western Conference.

Wizards 119 (46-28), Lakers 108 (21-53)

John Wall scored 34 points with 14 dimes, to go with 16 points apiece from Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. in Washington’s division-clinching road win. In addition to clinching the Southeast division, the Wizards are still in the mix for the first seed, trailing Boston by two games. Despite the loss, L.A. managed to shoot a combined 50.6% from the field, featuring 28 points from D’Angelo Russell and 22 from Jordan Clarkson.

Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said the defending NBA champs are treating games like a “show” instead of a “competition.”

Denver outscored Cleveland 70-30 in the paint area.

Per the Akron Beacon Journal:

“They just kicked our butt in every facet of the game,” he said. “Coaches we gotta be better, but players they gotta be better, too. They gotta be tougher. Gotta be more urgency, and it comes from all of us. They got 3-point shots, they got points in the paint, they got offensive rebounds. They got, I mean, whatever they wanted. And we gotta be better than that. It starts with the coaches, but the players gotta look at themselves in the mirror, too. They gotta be more physical, they gotta bring a physical presence and they’ve got to take pride in guarding their man.”

“I knew they were going to play well against us. I know our team and the way we are,” Lue said. “Sometimes you have to understand it’s not a show, it’s a competition. We get to LA and play teams like this, we consider it a show instead of a competition. And you get down early, teams get confidence and now you have to fight and struggle to win the game.”

“It ain’t about a group, it’s about individuals,” James said. “We’ve got to be more, just do more. It ain’t about no group. You can’t preach toughness, you’ve got to have it.” […] Asked how he played defensively, James said, “Who, me? Personally? I had opportunities where I could have been better. Um, one thing about it, I always bring toughness to the game, I know that. That’s for sure.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lebron-james-q/feed/02017 NBAEDENVER, CO - MARCH 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 22, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)Post Up: Numbers Gamehttp://www.slamonline.com/blogs/postup/russell-westbrook-numbers-game/
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Russell Westbrook and Rudy Gobert put up crazy statlines, the Nuggets dominated against CLE and more from Wednesday.

Sacramento is allowing 113.5 points per 100 possessions over the past two weeks—second worst in the L. Jason Terry, known for keeping it 100, pointed out that Sacramento “defensively has zero resistance.”

George, 26, will be one of the most sought-after free agents next summer:

“This season has been a reality check,” George told ESPN.com last week in New York. “You think you are gonna be in those playoff battles, playing alongside those guys forever. You have to try and recapture that moment. And that moment for us was having a strong chemistry and identity. We don’t have one now. I’ve never been on a team without an identity — without a toughness identity.”

Bird knows he is on the clock with George. The Lakers loom as a threat in free agency. The Pacers engaged at least the Celtics, Sixers, Hawks and Nuggets in trade talks for George at the deadline, though they never appeared serious about moving him, per league sources. (Bird has called the George rumors “fake news”). They explored trading Rodney Stuckey for a backup rim protector, including John Henson, sources say, and Bird will dangle Indy’s first-round pick again this summer in search of veteran help. Bird has been aggressive trading picks for Luis Scola and Thaddeus Young.

“I have a budget,” Bird said. “Whatever that budget is, I’ll spend it. Sometimes, we can’t go after max guys, or players we really think could help us, because of our budget.” The Pacers spent up to, and over, the cap in recent summers when they had room. George wants to play for a contender, and the Pacers seem miles from there. “Paul wants to compete for a title,” Bird said. “We want Paul here. He has expressed that he wants to be here. That could change overnight. You never know. But whatever I can spend, I’m going to spend.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/report-pacers-discussed-paul-george-trade-least-five-teams/feed/02015 Getty ImagesBOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 11: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on November 11, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)WATCH: Nikola Jokic Throws Perfect Touchdown Outlet Passhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-nikola-jokic-throws-perfect-touchdown-outlet-pass/
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First, the good: Washington erased a 21-point deficit behind 39p from John Wall, and 26p from Bradley Beal. With Saturday’s win, the Wizards passed Boston to claim the second seed, having now won seven of their last 10. Scott Brooks’ squad is exceeding expectations, and it’s been fun to watch.

Now, the not-so-good: Markieff Morris pretty clearly looked to have stepped out of bounds prior to hitting a game-winning jumper. The play was not reviewable, and Portland fans are stuck with a sour taste in their mouths from a controversial loss.

Markieff Morris' foot clearly on the sideline—and out of out bounds—as he catches the pass before his game-winner in OT. pic.twitter.com/b3p4DpP9Yo

Jamal Murray scored 11 fourth quarter points and Nikola Jokic added a double-double (20p, 14r), helping Denver gain ground over Portland for the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Gary Harris stepped up for the Nuggets, leading all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Buddy Hield turned in a nice performance (17 points, six boards), but there weren’t many positives for Dave Joerger.

With Saturday’s W, the Clippers have now beaten Philadelphia in 10 of their last 11 games. Chris Paul led the way with 30 points, DeAndre Jordan double-doubled (20r, 19p), and Blake Griffin added 15. The Sixers battled to the finish, outscoring L.A. 37-21 in the fourth quarter; earning Doc Rivers’ respect in the process.

“I can tell you what Philly is not, and that’s the worst team,” Rivers said. “People who have never coached have no idea how hard it is to get a team that’s not winning to buy into roles. That is a near impossibility, and yet Brett [Brown] somehow pulls that off.”

Pistons 112 (32-33), Knicks 92 (26-39)

The Pistons raced to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, and never looked back. Tobias Haris scored 28 points- 23 n the first half alone- and Andre Drummond dominated the boards for a 24p/15r line. The Knicks continued their second half swoon, having now dropped seven of their last 10, managing just 11 fourth quarter points.

One of these days Phil needs to organize a "team defense clinic" for the Knicks.

The Cavs snapped a three-game skid thanks to a 24p/13a/12r triple-double from LeBron James, 22 points from Kyrie Irving, and 50% team shooting from beyond the arc. Orlando, on the other hand, converted just 19% of their 3-point attempts.

“Tonight was a good step in the right direction,” James said after the victory. “Everyone has to be productive. It’s a process. We don’t get too high, and we don’t get too low in a long season. I’m just doing whatever I need to do to help this team win.”

Pelicans 125 (25-40), Hornets 122 (29-36)

Have a birthday, Anthony Davis! On the day he turned 24, AD scored 46 points to go with 21 boards, lifting the Pels to an overtime victory. Davis put the team on his back in this one, scoring 24 of his points between the fourth quarter and OT. DeMarcus Cousins, who managed just 11 points, racked up five fouls by the start of the fourth quarter. The Hornets can take solace in a career night for Marvin Williams (27p, 10r), as well as 24 points apiece for Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum. Charlotte will have a tough road to the postseason, now trailing Milwaukee 3.5 games for the eighth seed.

Heat 104 (31-34), Raptors 89 (38-27)

The Heat continue their torrid run, having now won 21 of their last 25 games. Dion Waiters had a team-high 20 points, Tyler Johnson added 16 off the bench, and Goran Dragic scored 15 before eventually leaving with an eye injury. The Dragon showed off his shiner late in the game:

Karl-Anthony Towns‘ 35 points weren’t enough against Milwaukee, as seven Bucks scored in double-digits to assume sole possession of the eighth seed. Jason Kidd‘s squad is now riding a six-game winning streak, and the former 10-time All-Star couldn’t be happier.

“We’d love for everybody to score 10 points but the big thing is these guys kept fighting,” Kidd said. “There are a lot of tired bodies in that locker room.”

Tony Snell led the Bucks with 19 points, and Ricky Rubio scored 22 points while dishing out eight assists for the Wolves.

Spurs 107 (50-14), Warriors 85 (52-13)

Well, this wasn’t the primetime showdown ABC executives were probably expecting before the season. The Spurs- sans Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Dejounte Murray, and LaMarcus Aldridge– were in control every moment of this game. Steve Kerr gave out minutes to his younger players, and Ian Clark took advantage of the opportunity, netting a career-high 36 points. Golden State will look to regroup before Tuesday’s match-up with the 76ers.

Ian Clark has his first career 30-point game & the first 30-point game by a Warriors reserve since Jordan Crawford scored 41 on 4/16/14

It hasn’t been pretty for the Grizzlies of late. Memphis has now dropped five straight, shooting a dismal 17% from long-distance against the Hawks. Paul Millsap, Dennis Schroder, and Kent Bazemore all scored 15+, and recent pick-up Jose Calderon added 14 off the bench. In a game they led by 26 at one point, Saturday’s win pushes Atlanta’s fifth-seed lead to 3.5 games over the Pacers.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-game-line-markieff-wizards/feed/02017 NBAEPORTLAND, OR - MARCH 11: Markieff Morris #5 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball to win the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 11, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)Post Up: Playoff Boundhttp://www.slamonline.com/blogs/postup/post-up-playoff-bound-popovich-spurs-leonard/
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San Antonio clinched a playoff spot for the 20th straight season, Jamal Crawford led L.A. to a primetime victory, and more from Saturday.

It took them an overtime win to get there, but the Spurs have now clinched a postseason berth for the 20th consecutive season. Gregg Popovich has been at the helm for all 20 seasons, joining Phil Jackson as the only coaches to hold the all-time honor (Jackson’s streak spanned 21 seasons).

Kawhi Leonard (34 points) and LaMarcus Aldridge (18p, 10r) played over 40 minutes for the second straight night, and Pau Gasol dropped 17 points off the bench to cement the victory. Karl-Anthony Towns was his usual self, scoring 24 points with 14 boards, but Andrew Wiggins was just 6-of-24 from the field in a disappointing loss.

Not completely sure but very possible the Spurs have a better record down by double-digits than Wolves do when ahead by double-digits.

C.J. McCollum scored 31 points and Al-Farouq Aminu added 23, helping Portland gain a game on Denver for the Western Conference eighth seed. Sean Kilpatrick hit a career-high six 3-pointers and Brook Lopez scored 26, but Kenny Atkinson’s Nets fell to 3-27 on the road.

Pistons 136 (29-32), 76ers 106 (23-38)

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went off for a game-high 26 points- 16 of which came in the second quarter alone. Stan Van Gundy, who recently criticized Reggie Jackson’s lack of energy, received stellar production from his guards. Jackson recorded 21 points on 9/14 shooting, and Ish Smith added a double-double (13a, 11p). With Jahlil Okafor sidelined, the Sixers absorbed a beating; though Nik Stauskas provided a nice highlight with this move:

The Cavs were hard-pressed to compete in this one, as Ty Lue announced LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would take a night of rest. Miami scored 101 points through the first three quarters, as Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside tallied 23 and 20 points, respectively. Deron Williams received an extensive look with his new team, scoring 10 points with seven dimes over 26 minutes. J.R. Smith- who’s still at least a week away from returning- got into it with Rodney McGruder and Dion Waiters after the game.

Spencer Hawes not only scored his first points with the Bucks in this one, he’d shoot 6-7 from the field and finish with a +14 in Milwaukee’s second straight W. Khris Middleton scored 24 and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21, as the Bucks are now just 1.5 games behind the eighth seed. Milwaukee could conceivably make a playoff push, especially with Terrence Jones on the way.

Clippers 101 (36-25), Bulls 91 (31-30)

Jamal Crawford saved the day with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting off the bench, helping the Clippers win Saturday’s primetime match-up. The Bulls- who used 11 different players in the loss- received just 10 points from Dwyane Wade and four turnovers from Rajon Rondo. D-Wade gave full props to Crawford after the defeat:

“Crawford went one-on-one, and you can’t do nothing when he’s going like that,’’ Wade said. “It wasn’t so much defensive breakdowns as it was [Crawford] making shots.’’

Hornets 112 (26-35), Nuggets 102 (28-33)

Johnny O’Bryant, currently on his third 10-day contract of the season, scored a career-high 15 points in Charlotte’s crucial road victory. Kemba Walker scored 27 and Nic Batum added 21, guiding the Hornets to victory following a 17-0 first quarter run. Nikola Jokic continues to emerge as one of the league’s premier young talents, scoring 31 points with 14 boards and four dimes.

Rockets 123 (43-19), Grizzlies 108 (36-26)

The Rockets are going to be a handful to deal with in the playoffs. Even on off-shooting nights from Lou Williams and Ryan Anderson, Houston drilled 18 3-pointers, improving to 8-2 over their last 10 games. Mike Conley and JaMychal Green each exceeded 20 points, but as coach David Fizdale attested to after the game, Memphis just wasn’t able to contain Houston’s offense.

“We stopped defending the 3-point line with discipline and it just doesn’t take long with them,” Fizdale said. “It’s really like three or four possessions that can bust a game open for this team and that’s what happened.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/postup/post-up-playoff-bound-popovich-spurs-leonard/feed/02017 Getty ImagesCHICAGO, IL - MARCH 04: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls tries to knock the ball away from Blake Griffin #32 of the LA Clippers at the United Center on March 4, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Clippers defeated the Bulls 101-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)Post Up: Beating the Oddshttp://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-beating-the-odds-wizards-warriors/
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Golden State lost Kevin Durant early in this one. KD hyperextended his left knee just over a minute into the game, leaving Stephen Curry (25p, 7r, 4a) to pick up the offensive slack. After the game, Steve Kerr said Durant would be evaluated with an MRI Wednesday.

Draymond Green filled up his stat sheet as well, but the Wizards emerged victorious after a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Bradley Beal and Marcus Morris scored 25 and 22 points, respectively, while recent acquisition Bojan Bogdanovic added 16 points off the bench. The oft-injured Ian Mahinmi even got in the act with six points, six boards and a block. After the game, Markieff Morris gave an, um, interesting take on how he’s able to perform in the clutch:

With Tuesday’s win, the Pistons are now just two games behind Indiana for the sixth seed of the Eastern Conference. Marcus Morris led the way with a career-high 37 points and Andre Drummond double-doubled (19p, 15r) in the overtime victory. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum did their thing- combining for 59 points- but Portland’s 24 turnovers came back to bite them. At least trade deadline pick-up Jusuf Nurkic continues to make strides.

Grizzlies 130 (36-25), Suns 112 (18-41)

Mike Conley scored a team-high 29 points while dishing out eight assists, and Marc Gasol went 5-for-5 from beyond the arc in a comfortable W for the Grizzlies. Devin Booker– who managed just nine points on the night- got tangled up with Vince Carter, resulting in Carter’s early ejection.

Nikola Jokic became the first Nugget to record three triple-doubles in a season since Dikembe Mutombo. The Joker posted 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists as Denver added to their lead over Sacramento in the Western Conference playoff chase. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler combined for 42, while Gary Harris and Will Barton had 15 points apiece.

Thunder 109 (34-25), Jazz 106 (37-22)

What more can be said of Russell Westbrook? Russ dropped his second consecutive triple-double with more than 40 points, leading OKC to a tightly contested win over Gordon Haywayrd (19 points) and the Jazz. The Thunder, who were without Victor Oladipo for a third straight game, were on point from downtown; hitting a franchise record 12 3-pointers in the first half.

Steve Clifford and the Hornets needed this W in the worst way. Now 2-8 over their last 10, Charlotte was given a run for their money by Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, who dropped 23 points each (Randle was four dimes shy of a triple-double). With Miles Plumlee sidelined, Frank Kaminsky filled in at the 5, recording 24 points with 12 boards. Kemba Walker continued his excellent season with 30 points and seven dimes.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-beating-the-odds-wizards-warriors/feed/02017 NBAEWASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 28, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Bucks Trade Roy Hibbert To Nuggetshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/roy-hibbert-trade-nuggets/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/roy-hibbert-trade-nuggets/#respondThu, 23 Feb 2017 19:58:43 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=428422

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/kevin-durant-to-nuggets-fan-well-sweep-your-ass/feed/02017 NBAEDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 13: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 13, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)Post Up: DENying The Dubshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-denying-dubs/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-denying-dubs/#respondTue, 14 Feb 2017 07:19:31 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=426893

Denver lights up Golden State, the Wizards put on a show, Atlanta wins thriller, and more from Monday night.

After Saturday’s loss to the Lakers, Nicolas Batum guaranteed that his Hornets would beat the 76ers tonight. Dario Saric had other ideas. The rookie poured in 18 points and 11 boards off the bench, leading Philly to a 105-99 victory. Kemba had 29 for the Hornets, who have lost ten of their last eleven.

Spurs 110 (42-13), Pacers 106 (29-26)

The Spurs bounced back after a rough loss to the Knicks yesterday, clinching a winning season for an NBA-record 20th straight time. Kawhi led the way with 32 points – his fourth straight outing with 30+. Paul George scored 27 in the loss. After a hot stretch, the Pacers have dropped their last four.

Grizzlies 112 (34-23), Nets 103 (9-46)

Mike Conley had 32 points and Marc Gasol flirted with a triple-double (19p/9r/8a), as the Grizzlies cruised to a victory in Brooklyn.

Memphis has won four of their last five, while Brooklyn has lost thirteen straight overall and fifteen straight at home.

Magic 116 (21-36), Heat 107 (24-32)

Orlando snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak with a nice victory over the red hot Heat. They shot 49% from the field as a team. Evan Fournier led all scorers with 24. One positive for Miami: Dion Waiters returned from a sprained ankle and posted 23 points on 10/19.

Wizards (32-21), Thunder (31-24)

The Wizards put on another show tonight, shooting 58% from the field and 62% from deep while holding the Thunder to just 35% and 21% respectively. At one point, OKC missed 24 consecutive shots, prompting Washington to take a 34-point lead. John Wall did his thing again with 15 points and 14 assists, none prettier than this one in transition.

Bucks 102 (24-30), Pistons 89 (26-30)

Greg Monroe was a monster in this one, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 boards in 31 minutes off the bench. Milwaukee also got good production from Michael Beasley (23p/4a/3r), who has seen an uptick in minutes since Jabari got injured.

Detroit just didn’t have it after a tough win over Toronto yesterday. They got a combined 19 points out of their top three guards and connected on just 7 of 21 three-point attempts.

Celtics 111 (36-19), Mavericks 98 (22-33)

Boston won their third straight game (and 10th of their last 11), thanks to 29 points and 8 assists from Isaiah Thomas. Dallas’ starting point guard Deron Williams was ejected in the second quarter after getting hit with two technical fouls, so rookie Yogi Ferrel picked up the slack, scoring 20 points on 8/11 off the bench. The Mavs just couldn’t get stops in this one, allowing the Celtics to shoot 47% from behind the arc.

Nuggets 132 (25-30), Warriors 110 (46-9)

DENying the dubs. The Nuggets tied the NBA record for most three-pointers in a game with 24 (shooting 60%!) and rolled to a victory over the best team in the league. Nikola Jokic continued to impress, notching his second career triple-double (17p/21r/12a). Rookie Juancho Hernangomez also had a breakout game, recording a season-high 27 points, including six long balls. Golden State now has the same amount of losses they had all of last season.

Clippers 88 (34-21), Jazz 72 (34-22)

Utah just couldn’t get any offense going, shooting 32% from the field and 17% from three (both season lows). Blake Griffin did a little bit of everything for the Clippers, posting 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Los Angeles has now won three straight.

Pelicans 110 (22-34), Suns 108 (17-39)

After a narrow loss to the Kings last night, the Pelicans were able to close out a tight game tonight. Anthony Davis scored six consecutive points down the stretch, including the go-ahead bucket with 40 seconds remaining. He finished with 24 and 10 boards. Eric Bledsoe did all he could for the Suns, pouring in 37 points on 50% shooting.

Hawks 109 (32-23), Trail Blazers 104 (23-32)

After a back-and-forth final quarter, All-Star Paul Millsap hit a lefty floater at the buzzer that sent this one to overtime.

The Hawks went down by seven in the extra period, but scored the last twelve to secure the W. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way with 25 points. CJ McCollum had 26 for the Blazers, who have lost their last five games against Atlanta.

With a surplus of young talent, the Nuggets have been pegged by many as a team that will be active at the trade deadline. According to Woj, Denver made its first move of the trade season today, moving big man Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first round pick to the Blazers for Marshall Plumlee and a future second-round pick.

The Portland Trail Blazers traded center Mason Plumlee and a future second-round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets for center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick, league sources told The Vertical.

Portland owns three picks in the talent-rich 2017 NBA draft, including its own, Cleveland’s and Memphis’ via the deal with Denver. Portland will send a 2018 second-round pick, acquired from Memphis, to the Nuggets as part of the deal, sources said.

The Blazers likely hope that the 6-11 Nurkic, who has seen his minutes fluctuate all season, can bolster the team’s defense up front. Portland currently gives up 110.1 points per game, good for 26th in the League. Plumlee is averaging 11.1 points and 8 rebounds per game and gives the roster another versatile big man to play alongside Nikola Jokic.

The Hornets’ swoon continues, as Steve Clifford’s squad has now dropped nine of their last 10. Nicolas Batum led all scorers with 25 points and Frank Kaminsky added 20, but Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin (22 and 20 points, respectively) spurred the Clippers to a come-from-behind victory. L.A. received a highlight for the ages in this one, as Blake Griffin threw a monstrous jam over the recently acquired Miles Plumlee.

The Bucks were without the recovering Khris Middleton (second night of a back-to-back set), using just a nine-man rotation against Indiana. Giannis Antetokounmpo came just two rebounds short of a triple-double, Malcolm Brogdon and Greg Monroe scored 17 each off the bench, and Thon Maker scored 12 points in his audition for a starting role. Let’s be real, though: this foul line dunk from the Greek Freak is the main takeaway from this game:

Of course the 76ers would be the team to slow Miami’s momentum. Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel, and Dario Saric tallied 19 points apiece to snap the Heat’s 13-game winning streak; the third longest total in franchise history. Goran Dragic scored 30 and James Johnson added 26 in the disappointing loss. Following their improbable streak, the Heat are now just 1.5 games behind an eighth-seed; should Pat Riley and Miami’s front office go for it at the trade deadline?

Westbrook posted a 47-point performance (albeit with 11 turnovers), and Victor Oladipo added 20, but Billy Donovan’s squad now sits at .500 over their last 10 games. After his emotional return to OKC was over, Durant shared his thoughts on the experience.

The Magic have found a new rock bottom, getting trounced by Wesley Matthews (20 points, six dimes) and the Mavericks in their fourth straight loss. Bismack Biyombo scored a team-high 15 points for Orlando, while Mario Hezonja played a season-high 35 minutes in Aaron Gordon‘s absence.

Rockets 133 (40-17), Suns 102 (17-38)

This result is to be expected when Houston plays one of the league’s worst defenses. James Harden went off for 40 points, including an 8-of-15 rate from downtown, and Patrick Beverley added 19 in the Rockets’ fourth straight W. Things got out of hand quickly for Phoenix; look where Harden pulled up on this one:

Recently dubbed “easily the best point guard in the Eastern Conference” by Paul Pierce, Isaiah Thomas went off for 29 points with five assists, helping Boston improve to 9-1 over their last 10 games. Gordon Hayward led all scorers with 31 points and George Hill added 22, but the Jazz were unable to overcome a 58-44 first half deficit.

The Hawks entered halftime with a 65-39 lead and never looked back, blowing out the Magic behind a combined 42 points from Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. Orlando shot a dreadful 34.6% from the field on the night, falling to a 3-7 mark over their last 10 games.

Are the Wizards ever going to lose at home again? Washington outscored the Pelicans 25-8 in the fourth quarter, cruising to their 17th straight victory at the Verizon Center. John Wall had 25 points with 13 dimes, Markieff Morris added 18, and Marcin Gortat grabbed 17 boards with 12 points. As has been the case throughout the season, the Pels lacked offensive firepower behind Anthony Davis; despite nearly tallying a triple-double, Jrue Holiday shot 5-of-17 from the field.

Pacers 105 (28-22), Pistons 84 (23-28)

The Pacers cruised to their sixth straight victory, as Paul George scored a team-high 21 points and Lavoy Allen added a double-double (18p, 11r). Indiana went on a 20-5 run in the third quarter, signaling defeat for Marcus Morris (19 points, six boards) and the Pistons. Despite emerging with the W, Pacers coach Nate McMillan wasn’t thrilled with his team’s effort.

“We just felt like we didn’t establish ourselves defensively, giving up 58 points, in the first half,” coach Nate McMillan said. “Way too many points to be giving up. I thought we responded in the second half and I though the defense got stronger with each quarter.”

Heat 125 (21-30), 76ers 102 (18-32)

Hassan Whiteside had a field day with the Joel Embiid-less 76ers, scoring 30 points with 20 rebounds. Dion Waiters scored 21 while Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson tallied 16 points apiece, blowing out Ersan Ilyasova (21 points) and the Sixers. The legend of Dion Waiters continued to grow after the game:

After tonight's game I asked Dion Waiters a question about his confidence level. His answer lasted nearly 4 minutes. Here it is. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/kqjRLRuJJj

Give the Knicks credit for fighting back; entering halftime facing a 64-45 deficit, it appeared the Knicks would flounder in this primetime match-up. Brandon Jennings turned in a 23-point performance and Courtney Lee added 17, but LeBron James (32p, 10a) and the Cavs were ultimately able to protect their lead after a rocky second half. Carmelo Anthony was hearing it from the crowd for parts of the game, and appears to be fed up with the MSG boobirds.

https://youtu.be/TFpYC9BYYI4

Grizzlies 107 (31-22), Timberwolves 99 (19-32)

It was a somber day in Minnesota, as the Timberwolves absorbed a close loss after learning Zach LaVine would be out for the year with a torn left ACL. Karl-Anthony Towns double-doubled with 27 points and 16 rebounds, but the T’Wolves blew a 31-15 first quarter lead in their third straight defeat. JaMychal Green led the Grizzlies in this one, going off for a career-high 29 points with six boards.

Jazz 105 (32-19), Hornets 98 (23-28)

The Jazz rallied back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to go on a 19-4 run, handing Charlotte their seventh straight defeat. Gordon Hayward dropped 33 points on 13/20 shooting, George Hill added 25, and Joe Johnson scored 18. Recent acquisition Miles Plumlee made his Hornets debut, scoring four points with eight boards.

Spurs 121 (39-11), Nuggets 97 (22-28)

With Saturday’s win, Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history with an individual team (1,128 victories). Aside from a banner 20-point night from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets appeared outmatched from the jump; getting outscored 65-47 in the second half. Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Jonathan Simmons each scored at least 18 points. Following the W, Parker delivered props to his legendary coach.

“Growing up, Jerry Sloan was one of the big names, watching the (NBA) Finals and stuff like that,” Parker said. “To have Pop up there, he’s going to keep it going. It looks like he’s not getting tired at all. He’s not going to stop anytime soon.”

Bucks 137 (22-28), Suns 112 (16-35)

Devin Booker went off for 27 points in the second quarter…and the Suns still lost by 25. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 18 of his 30 points in the first quarter and Mirza Teletovic added 19 in the victory. Marquese Chriss achieved a milestone in the loss, recording a career-high 27 points.

Kings 109 (20-31), Warriors 106 (43-8)

Draymond Green made his return to the lineup, but Golden State absorbed an overtime defeat at the Golden 1 Center. Kevin Durant had a rare off-night, scoring just 10 points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field. DeMarcus Cousins recorded a double-double (32p, 12r) and Willie Cauley-Stein lived up to his promise off the bench, scoring 14 points in 17 minutes. The Warriors played most of the second half without their head coach, as a livid Steve Kerr was ejected in the third quarter.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-up-royal-upsetkings-cousins/feed/02017 NBAEMINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 4: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies talk after a game on February 4, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)Report: Wilson Chandler Frustrated With Role in Denver, Wants To Be Tradedhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/report-wilson-chandler-frustrated-with-role-in-denver-wants-to-be-traded/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/report-wilson-chandler-frustrated-with-role-in-denver-wants-to-be-traded/#respondThu, 02 Feb 2017 20:28:28 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=425177

Finally healthy after missing all of last season due to a hip injury, Wilson Chandler is putting up career-high numbers for the Nuggets. But, a report from USA TODAY states that Chandler is growing frustrated with his role on the team and wants out.

More from USA TODAY:

According to two people with knowledge of Chandler’s situation, the player who came to Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal six years ago wants to be traded. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

Chandler’s frustration, according to the people, is born out of the inconsistency with his role. While he’s having a career year, averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, two assists and 30.2 minutes per game for a 21-27 Nuggets team that is currently ninth in the Western Conference, he hasn’t started since Jan. 12 – a win over Indiana in which he had 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and had a plus-22 rating.

Chandler’s desire to be moved isn’t the only trade buzz coming out of Denver. According to ESPN, the Nuggets are “quietly exploring” what they could get in return for Emmanuel Mudiay and picks.

More from ESPN:

The Nuggets are quietly exploring what they might get for Emmanuel Mudiay and multiple picks, sources say, but they’re in no rush to move Mudiay, and the Suns may not want him when they could simply draft a point guard.

It’s the same story for the floundering Knicks, who are now 3-7 over their last 10 games. The team’s $72 million man, Joakim Noah, appears to have been leapfrogged in Jeff Hornacek’s rotation by Willy Hernangomez, who recorded an impressive double-double.

Raptors 108 (30-19), Pelicans 106 (19-30)

This one appeared destined for double-OT after Anthony Davis hit a clutch shot to tie things up at 106. Kyle Lowry had other ideas, however, burying a tough jumper to put Toronto ahead for good.

Jrue Holiday posted a 30-point stat line in the loss, and Anthony Davis grabbed 17 boards with 18 points. AD was on the receiving end of a highlight-reel jam, however, as Norman Powell threw one down over the former Kentucky Wildcat.

James Harden scored a season-low 10 points, Ryan Anderson picked up the slack with 25 points (including six from beyond the arc) and Eric Gordon added 17. Sacramento shot a woeful 34.9% from the field, not able to generate momentum behind DeMarcus Cousins’ 16 points. The more interesting story beyond the court…

It was Dame Time at the Moda Center, as Lillard torched Charlotte for 27 points (his 10th career 20+ point game against the Hornets). Portland has now won four of their last five, bumping Charlotte to the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference. Kemba Walker achieved a milestone in the loss; surpassing Larry Johnson for third place on the Hornets’ all-time scoring list.

As could have been expected, there wasn’t much defense to be found in this match-up of sub-.500 Western Conference teams. The Lakers shot a combined 52.8% from the field, featuring 20+ point performances from Nick Young, D’Angelo Russell, and Lou Williams. Rookie big man Ivica Zubac got in on the action with 17 points; earning props from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

“He’s really talented,” Jokic said of Zubac. “He finishes around the rim. He can dunk the ball. He’s a good rim protector. He just needs a couple of years to become an NBA player. He’ll be really good. He has a bright future.”

Isaiah Thomas, who wasn’t amused with Washington’s antics, dropped 25 points with 13 dimes while Al Horford added 22 points. The Wizards, however, controlled the action with 66 first half points. Bradley Beal erupted for 13 fourth quarter points (31 overall) as the Wizards pulled away for their 14th straight win at home. Marcus Smart reached his boiling point by the end of regulation, snapping at assistant coaches.

Dwyane Wade fired warning shots early Tuesday that he may not re-sign with the Bulls if they kept up their pedestrian play.

“I wouldn’t lie to you and say no. Of course,” Wade said, when asked if continued mediocrity would influence his decision. “I can’t play this game forever. I just turned 35 and I have a number in my head on how long I want to play. I take my career seriously and where I am and where I want to be. And I will do the same thing this summer.”

Wade’s supporting cast responded well to his remarks, as Jimmy Butler scored 20, and Cristiano Felicio double-doubled in a stellar win over the Magic. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg altered his rotation, giving Jerian Grant a starting role and having Rajon Rondo serve as his back-up.

https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/824026437115969537

Spurs 108 (35-9), Raptors 106 (28-17)

Toronto gave the short-handed Spurs a run for their money, as Kyle Lowry dropped 30 points and Terrence Ross added 21 in a close loss. The Raptors, who were playing without DeMar DeRozan, have now dropped four straight and lost 19 of their last 24 games against the Spurs.

The Clippers were flying high at halftime, staked to a 68-59 lead in Blake Griffin’s return game. The Clippers were able to complete a stunning comeback, however, erasing a 19-point third quarter deficit before a capacity crowd of 17,591. Richaun Holmes tallied a career-high 18 points and Nerlens Noel added 19, filling in admirably for the injured Joel Embiid.

Ricky Rubio recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 dimes. The Timberwolves are reportedly shopping Rubio, and have a crowded depth chart in the meantime; despite finishing with a +22 in Sunday’s game, Tyus Jones received a DNP against Phoenix.

Nuggets 103 (19-25), Jazz 93 (29-17)

Nikola Jokic stuffed his stat sheet; scoring 23 points with 11 boards, six dimes, three blocks, and a pair of steals in Denver’s upset win over the Jazz. The Nuggets, who have now won five of their last seven, received a stellar performance off the bench from Darrell Arthur, who drained three treys in a 16-point night. Derrick Favors and George Hill had 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Boris Diaw scored a season-high 16 points.

Really good chance this will be the last time in Jazz franchise history they ever play 4 games in 5 nights. #progress#newschedule

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-funeral-game/feed/02017 Getty ImagesWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards celebrates during the closing mintues of the Wizards 123-108 win over the Boston Celtics at Verizon Center on January 24, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)Post Up: Controversy in Chicagohttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-up-controversy-in-chicago/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-up-controversy-in-chicago/#respondSun, 22 Jan 2017 06:05:29 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=423563

Controversy surrounded the finish of Bulls/Kings, Kawhi Leonard went off for a career-high, and more from Saturday.

It was a tough loss in OT for the Cavs, who were torched for a career-high 41 points by Kawhi Leonard, as well as double-doubles from LaMarcus Aldridge and David Lee. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving dropped 29 points each, including this clutch bucket toward the end of regulation:

It’s a shame for a neck-and-neck game to be decided by a phantom foul call, but here we are. With the game knotted up at 99, Dwyane Wade picked Garrett Temple’s pocket for a wide open look downcourt. Wade muffed the dunk, however, and was rewarded with a foul call on DeMarcus Cousins well after the fact. Take a look:

DeMarcus Cousins hit with a phantom foul call in a game-deciding possession…not exactly a shining moment for league officials. pic.twitter.com/KEK8QU5Jo7

The Nuggets are reportedly shopping Jusuf Nurkic (12p, 5r), but he worked well with Nikola Jokic (19p, 10r) in this one. Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and Will Barton scored 18 points each, as Denver now holds sole possession of the Western Conference eight-seed. Blake Griffin is close to returning, which will be a boon to the Clippers’ short-handed offense.

Kenneth Faried praised the crowd tonight. "I hope they realize we need them as much as they need us." #Nuggets

C.J. McCollum and Isaiah Thomas went head-to-head at the TD Garden, as Thomas racked up 41 points on 14-28 shooting while McCollum dropped 35 points on 11-21 shooting. Terry Rozier ultimately helped Boston pull away with a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, but Meyers Leonard was the talk of Beantown; putting Jordan Mickey on a poster TWICE in the first half.

Markieff Morris scored 29 points with nine rebounds and John Wall added 19 point with 10 dimes. Following the game, Marcus addressed the apparent no-call in the game’s final possession.

“I grabbed him, put my hand on his shoulder and got him back because he blocked my shot the play before that,” Marcus Morris said of Markieff. “I knew that was him (standing there). You can’t make that call at the end of the game.”

Hornets 112 (23-21), Nets 105 (9-34)

The Nets weren’t able to capitalize on the momentum of their 143-114 win over the Pelicans, coming back down to earth in Saturday’s loss against Charlotte. Now on his second 10-day contract, Quincy Acy continued to show he belongs, netting 14 points with four boards. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led Charlotte’s scoring, netting 17 points with 14 rebounds, while Nic Batum and Kemba Walker added 16 points each.

Hawks 110 (26-18), 76ers 93 (15-27)

Despite early highlights from T.J. McConnell and Nik Stauskas, the Joel Embiid-less 76ers were outgunned by Paul Millsap (22p, 10r) and the Hawks. After the game, Dwight Howard took an opportunity to predict the outcome of tomorrow’s game between the Falcons/Packers.

The Knicks have reached their nadir, getting outclassed by the Suns at MSG. Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe scored 26 and 23 points, respectively, and former Knick Tyson Chandler dominated the paint with 16 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony’s attempt at a game-winning trey rolled in and out, however, resulting in the latest of the Knicks’ recent frustrating losses. Chatter of a potential Carmelo Anthony trade will continue around the league, particular after his recent interview with Newsday:

“I think it will be more on the front office,” Anthony said. “I have the power, but still I would talk to them. We would be in communication if they feel like they want to go in a different direction, they want to start rebuilding for the future. If they tell me they want to scrap this whole thing, yeah, I have to consider it.”

Heat 109 (14-30), Bucks 97 (20-23)

Dion Waiters matched his previous career-high with 33 points and Goran Dragic added 25, handing Milwaukee their fifth-straight loss. The Bucks held a closed-door meeting after their loss to the Magic on Friday, resulting in Jabari Parker being held out of the starting lineup Saturday.

Jabari Parker said he spoke up in team meeting for first time and "was getting thrashed." But said at least he gave his perspective.

Jason Kidd’s squad will look to turn things around against the Rockets on Monday.

Rockets 119 (34-13), Grizzlies 95 (26-20)

James Harden had plenty of help from his supporting cast Saturday, as Sam Dekker dropped 30 points on 12-19 shooting and Eric Gordon added 21. Marc Gasol scored a game-high 32 points but Mike Conley went shot just 35% from the field in the loss. Memphis will have plenty of time off before their match-up with Toronto on Wednesday.

Despite James Harden’s 13th triple-double of the season (40p, 12r, 10a), Goran Dragic and the Heat earned their first victory since Jan. 4. Dragic tallied 21 points with eight boards and eight dimes, Wayne Ellington dropped 18, and Dion Waiters scored 17. The Rockets, who were without Ryan Anderson against Miami, will have a tough match-up with the Warriors on Friday.

ESPN has removed Heat vs Bulls from their January 27 NBA broadcast schedule and replaced it with Rockets vs Sixers.

No Kyle Lowry? No problem. DeMar DeRozan lit up the Nets for 36 points and Cory Joseph added a career-high 33, lifting Toronto to a franchise-best 28-13 record at the midway point of the season. Brook Lopez scored a team-high 28 points and rookie Caris Levert added 14, but the Nets’ 11-game skid continued.

Mavericks 99 (13-27), Bulls 98 (19-22)

Jimmy Butler was this close to playing hero in Tuesday’s match-up. “Buckets” knocked down a clutch jumper to put Chicago ahead with just 22.8 seconds left in regulation, before Deron Williams found Wesley Matthews for a game-deciding 3-pointer in Dallas’ final possession.

Butler double-doubled (24p, 12a) and Robin Lopez added 21 in a tough loss for the Bulls.

Spurs 122 (32-8), Timberwolves 114 (14-27)

The T’Wolves showed off their offensive potential in the early-going, netting 71 first half points. However, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge were ultimately too much for Tom Thibodeau’s squad, scoring a combined 63 points in Leonard’s fourth consecutive 30+ point game. Karl-Anthony Towns and Ricky Rubio each double-doubled, but Andrew Wiggins was limited to just eight shot attempts on the night.

Defense wasn’t a priority for either team, as the Nuggets utilized a 13-2 first half run to maintain their lead for good at the Staples Center.

https://twitter.com/DannyLeroux/status/821592076563468289

Will Barton was a perfect 5-5 from beyond the arc in a 26-point night, and Nikola Jokic was stellar in a 29-point, 15-rebound showing. Ivica Zubac was effective in his return from a D-League assignment, though he did get dunked on by Wilson Chandler:

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-big-shot-wes/feed/02017 NBAELOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets goes for a lay up against the Denver Nuggets during the game on January 17, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)Kawhi Leonard Steals the Ball from Teammate Pau Gasol and Scoreshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/kawhi-leonard-steals-ball-teammate-pau-gasol-scores/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/kawhi-leonard-steals-ball-teammate-pau-gasol-scores/#respondFri, 06 Jan 2017 16:00:43 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=422042

Even the San Antonio Spurs aren't immune from Kawhi Leonard's suffocating defense.

“You just have to stay with it,” said Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with a game-high 28 points. “They play well here. They have a skilled group, a lot of guys who can score in a lot of different ways. You just have to pick up your defense and stay with it.”

Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points after a slow shooting start, (Tony) Parker set the tone with 21 points and nine assists and Aldridge had his way with any Denver defender dispatched to guard him.

(Nuggets head coach Mike) Malone came into the game grumbling about his team’s defense, which he had called “embarrassing” and “a joke” after Denver lost to Sacramento earlier in the week. […] “Our defense started to cave amongst all their talent and pressure,” Malone said.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/kawhi-leonard-steals-ball-teammate-pau-gasol-scores/feed/02016 NBAESAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 11: Pau Gasol #16 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs shake hands during the game against the Detroit Pistons on November 11, 2016 at the AT&amp;T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)Nuggets Coach Mike Malone: ‘We Have the Worst Defense in the NBA’http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nuggets-coach-mike-malone-defense-worst-nba/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nuggets-coach-mike-malone-defense-worst-nba/#respondWed, 04 Jan 2017 15:10:23 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=421802

Malone grimly pointed out his squad's "embarrassing" defense following a 120-113 Tuesday night loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings.

Malone grimly pointed out his squad’s “embarrassing” defense following a 120-113 Tuesday night loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings.

The Nuggets have allowed an average of 123.6 points in their last three games, all losses.

Per the Denver Post:

Nuggets coach Michael Malone was careful not to attach too much importance to game No. 35 on a cold January night. But there was no escaping the fact it was a game being played against a team fighting with the Nuggets for the eighth playoff spot.

“We have the worst defense in the NBA, that’s the bottom line,” Malone said. “It’s embarrassing how we go out there and attempt to defend every night. That’s something that we have to try to fix as soon as possible because it’s at an all-time low right now. That is a huge concern of mine.”

“They’re a half a game ahead of us going into tonight’s game, and that’s the kind of effort we put forth,” Malone said. “So it must not matter as much as I hoped it would for our guys to go out there and play. And I don’t use fatigue as a factor. Everybody goes through that.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nuggets-coach-mike-malone-defense-worst-nba/feed/02016 Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 20: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets coaches from the bench during the first half of a game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on December 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Post Up: Randle is Rollinghttp://www.slamonline.com/blogs/post-up-randle-rolling-post-up/
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Julius Randle's third career triple-double, Isaiah Thomas' highlight-reel night, and more from Tuesday.

The Lakers certainly didn’t play like a 12-25 team in Tuesday’s match-up. Nick Young drained six 3-pointers to score a team-high 20 points while Julius Randle recorded a triple-double (19p, 14r, 11a). It was an off-night for the Grizzlies, who shot a combined 38% from the field despite 20-plus point performances from Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.

Robert Covington was hearing it from the crowd throughout yesterday’s game- shooting 4-of-14 from the floor- but he came through when it counted, scoring the game-winning bucket with 1.6 seconds left in regulation. Joel Embiid helped the cause with 25 points, eight boards and a pair of blocks. Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine were stellar, but Andrew Wiggins was held to just eight points in the loss.

https://twitter.com/NateDuncanNBA/status/816553666824011776

Celtics 115 (21-14), Jazz 104 (22-14)

Gordon Hayward scored 23 points on 50% shooting, but this one was otherwise the Isaiah Thomas show. Thomas, who entered Tuesday averaging 33.9 points over his last seven games, tallied 29 points with 15 dimes. His highlights, particularly when maneuvering around the 7’1” Rudy Gobert, are a sight to be seen.

In an awkward subplot, Jae Crowder voiced his grievances with Celtics fans after the game. Disturbed that fans cheered for Gordon Hayward (thought to be a potential free agent signing of the Celtics), Crowder welcomed the idea of finding a new team.

https://twitter.com/NBA_Skits/status/816517906750115841

Pacers 121 (18-18), Pistons 116 (16-21)

The Pacers won a significant road match-up at the Palace behind 32 points from Paul George and 17 apiece from Jeff Teague and Myles Turner. Despite a team-high 22 points from Tobias Harris, the Pistons dropped to 2-8 over their last 10 games. Stan Van Gundy was characteristically blunt after the defeat.

“Our starters didn’t guard anyone, and neither did our bench,” Van Gundy said. “I’ve got to figure out who to play and when to play them, but they aren’t making it easy on us.”

Mavericks 113 (11-24), Wizards 105 (16-18)

New year, same Wizards. John Wall, the most recent Eastern Conference Player of the Week, scored 27 points with eight dimes in Washington’s second straight loss. Harrison Barnes led the Mavs with 26 points and Deron Williams added 21.

Spurs 110 (28-7), Raptors 82 (23-11)

Fatigue was clearly a factor in Toronto’s lopsided loss at the AT&T Center, as the team completed its sixth straight road game in 12 days. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 and 23 points, respectively, while Tony Parker scored 15 points with eight dimes. The Raptors, who shot a combined 37% from the field in Tuesday’s loss, will receive a night off before returning home against the Jazz on Thursday.

Kings 120 (15-19), Nuggets 113 (14-21)

The Kings are tough to beat when DeMarcus Cousins has help on the offensive end. Boogie scored 31 points, Darren Collison added 26, and Kosta Koufos/Arron Afflalo combined for 37 in Sacramento’s fifth win in their last seven games. Nuggets coach Mike Malone didn’t mince words after the game:

“Offense sells tickets; defense wins championships. Right now our defense is the worst in the NBA. That is the bottom line. It is embarrassing how we go out and attempt to defend every night. That is something that we have to try and fix as soon as possible, because it’s at an all-time low right now, and that is a huge concern of mine.”

Suns 99 (11-25), Heat 90 (10-26)

Willie Reed performed admirably in Hassan Whiteside’s absence- scoring 22 points with 18 boards- but Miami had no answers for Devin Booker, who turned in a stellar 27-point night. The Heat will be hard-pressed to compete without Whiteside, Tyler Johnson, Dion Waiters, Justise Winslow, James Johnson or Josh McRoberts.

With his third 20-rebound game this season, @tysonchandler is the first @Suns player with three-plus in a season since Barkley (5) in 93-94

As much as the Golden State starters have sat through the fourth quarter during blowouts this season, Green has had fewer chances at triple-doubles and still come close.

“No, I don’t care at all. It’s not really a focus of mine,” Green insisted. “Trust me, if I cared I’d have a lot more than what I have — one? — this year.”

(Kevin) Durant had a triple-double Friday against Dallas and the consecutive triple-doubles by different players were a first for the franchise, the Warriors said according to The Elias Sports Bureau. […] “He does that for us every night,” Durant said of Green’s steady stat line.

Sunday’s 2015-16 Championship rematch lived up to its billing, as the Cavaliers and Warriors went down to the wire in Cleveland. A memorable duel between Kevin Durant and LeBron James took center stage, but it was Kyrie Irving who closed the show with a clutch turnaround jumper. Now 36 years old, Richard Jefferson raised eyebrows by dunking on Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.

Lakers 111 (12-22), Clippers 102 (22-10)

The Clippers felt Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s absence, losing to the Lakers for the first time since Oct. 29, 2013. Veterans Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick had 22 points apiece, while Luol Deng double-doubled for the Lakers. Now 2-3 in their last five, the Clippers will look to regroup against the Nuggets tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/PLm3_Do0ytg

Thunder 112 (19-12), Timberwolves 100 (9-21)

Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins scored 26 and 23 points, respectively, but the T’Wolves came up short against Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Russ went off for 31 points and 15 assists; his fifth time this season reaching at least 30 points with 15 dimes. Following the game, Tom Thibodeau gave full credit to Westbrook.

“He’s the MVP leader right now, so you’ve got to try and slow him down,” Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said of Westbrook. “He draws so much attention — you know we’ve got to watch out for him. We’ve just got to stay solid and keep our assignments. We broke down a little in the second half.”

Spurs 119 (25-6), Bulls 100 (14-16)

The Spurs and Bulls had a tough act to follow after Cleveland/Golden State, but LaMarcus Aldridge was up to the task. Aldridge dropped 33 points – 20 coming in the first quarter – en route to a lopsided win over Dwyane Wade (24 points, six dimes) and the Bulls. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 with 10 boards, and Dewayne Dedmon added nine points with six rebounds off the bench.

The Knicks erupted for an 11-2 run with under two minutes left in regulation, turning Sunday’s MSG showdown into a nail-biter. Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose combined for 59 points, but Isaiah Thomas (27 points) and the Celtics ultimately came away with the close W. Marcus Smart nailed the dagger, and delivered a parting jab to the Knicks after the game.

”They had the crowd behind them on a very special day and this team just did a really good job of making sure when they punched us we punched right back,” said Smart.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/post-up-christmas-hero/feed/02016 NBAECLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play during the game on December 25, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)George Karl Trashes Carmelo Anthony’s Personality and Defense in Memoirhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/george-karl-trashes-carmelo-anthonys-personality-defense-memoir/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/george-karl-trashes-carmelo-anthonys-personality-defense-memoir/#respondThu, 22 Dec 2016 16:00:16 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=420749

But it’s not all bad: Karl gives Anthony the nod as the most gifted offensive player he’s ever coached.

Per the NY Post:

Karl also took aim in “Furious George” at former Nuggets, and ex-Knicks, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin. He branded the trio of Anthony, Smith and Martin as “AAU babies” — akin to “the spoiled brats you see in junior golf and junior tennis.” […] Karl also referred to Smith’s entourage as “a posse” — a phrase that got Knicks president Phil Jackson in hot water when he used it regarding LeBron James’ managers.

“Carmelo was a true conundrum for me in the six years I had him,” Karl wrote. “He was the best offensive player I ever coached. He was also a user of people, addicted to the spotlight and very unhappy when he had to share it. […] He really lit my fuse with his low demand of himself on defense. He had no commitment to the hard, dirty work of stopping the other guy. My ideal — probably every coach’s ideal — is when your best player is also your leader. But since Carmelo only played hard on one side of the ball, he made it plain he couldn’t lead the Nuggets, even though he said he wanted to. Coaching him meant working around his defense and compensating for his attitude.”

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote. […] Karl wrote Anthony “was such a talented kid,’’ he could’ve “become the best defender at his position in the NBA.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/george-karl-trashes-carmelo-anthonys-personality-defense-memoir/feed/02005 NBAEDENVER - DECEMBER 27: Carmelo Anthony #15 and head coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets stand during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 27, 2005 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)No Jokehttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/nikola-jokic-nuggets-interview/
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Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets went off last night, racking up 27 points, 15 rebounds and 9 dimes last night in a 117-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was eye-popping performance in a season that’s seen him average 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game so far. We recently chatted with the 6-10 Jokic, aka The Joker, about his unique childhood experience in Serbia and how he’s been adjusting to NBA life in the US.

SLAM: What’s your hometown of Sombor like?

Nikola Jokic: It’s a really small town on the northwest of Serbia. We have really nice nature. But I just like the people there. It’s like family.

SLAM: What’s the most popular sport for kids in Serbia?

NJ: You know, we’re a sports nation, now that Novak Djokovic has been the top tennis player in the world, we won silver medal at the Olympics in basketball, the women’s team won bronze, and then the women’s volleyball team won a silver medal. So it depends, sometimes they’re going more toward tennis, and sometimes it’s basketball.

SLAM: How did you watch NBA games back home?

NJ: When I was like 14 and YouTube came out, I started to watch highlights from some players, some moves but not the whole games. It was like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Now, when there’s big games or the Finals or All-Star, they have that come out on TV.

NJ: Basketball was always in my life. I had two older brothers who played basketball. I fell in love with basketball because of them. We would always play together. But then at some point in my life I started to go into horse racing. I just fell in love with horses and their beauty and elegance. It was like a hobby for me. I didn’t get serious with it. And I wasn’t taking basketball serious either. I was in between both.

SLAM: How old were you when you started getting into competitive horse racing?

NJ: I was like 14 or 15 years old. I just enjoyed [being] with them, just to clean them up, just to ride with them. I just enjoyed that. Our stable, we were like a club. We raced some professionals. But I wasn’t professional. I was just amateur. I just had one amateur race, and I took fourth place, but that was good because in that race they were all better horses than I had and drivers with more experience. I did good for a first-timer.

SLAM: When did you realize you wanted to make basketball your main focus?

NJ: My whole career was going fast because I went from my hometown to one bigger town to play professionally. I was there six months and then I went to Mega Leks [in Serbia], my ex-club. And then in three years I went to the NBA. So in three years I went from my hometown to the NBA—it was crazy fast.

SLAM: How was the Mega Leks experience?

NJ: Mega Leks was a small club but with big talent and big players. But now you see we had three players in this year’s NBA Draft. We also had three players in the 2014 NBA Draft. We’re doing a great job helping Serbian basketball and helping young players develop.

SLAM: How difficult was it adjusting to life in Denver as compared to life in Serbia?

NJ: Oh, everything. The people, the food, the atmosphere—everything. But my brothers came with me and my girlfriend came with me so we tried to make our home here and not allow all the different things to bother us. I actually like Denver as a city—it reminds me a little of my hometown in Serbia because I like nature, mountains, rivers and trees.

—

Franklyn Calle is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

Denver Nuggets big man Jusuf Nurkic dropped by the SLAM Dome to talk about his transition from Bosnia to the NBA, his 7-foot, 400-pound father, how he got introduced to basketball, playing against Kobe Bryant, Joel Embiid, his Nuggets teammates and much, much more.

The Suns kept the game to a nine-point deficit entering halftime, but the wheels fell off in the third quarter; getting outscored 42-27 en route to an easy W for the Warriors. Golden State has now gone 106 regular season games without losing two in a row, boasting 20-plus point performances from Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry. While the team struggled as a whole (committing 14 turnovers, getting in foul trouble), Eric Bledsoe and

In midst of an impressive night off the bench (11 points in 12:42 of court time), JaVale McGee submitted a classic #Shaqtin moment…much to the delight of his teammates.

We’re not exactly breaking news here, but it’s worth stating: Giannis Antetokounmpo is really good. The Greek Freak is averaging 25 points, nine boards, 7.6 dimes, 3.2 steals, and two blocks over his last five games. In addition to Antetokounmpo’s handiwork, the Bucks received 15-plus point performances from Jabari Parker, Matthew Dellavedova, and John Henson to seal the W.

Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a cold-blooded trey to send the game to OT. Minnesota’s gotten off to a rough start under Tom Thibodeau, but wins like these are a sign that things are trending in the right direction. Karl-Anthony Towns double-doubled, and delivered this powerful jam in transition.

Yeesh…the Hawks are going to want to forget about this one. Dwight Howard double-doubled, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15 off the bench, but there aren’t many positives to take away from a 44-point blowout on the road. The Raptors outscored Atlanta 42-to-14 in the fourth quarter (!), shooting a combined 57.6 percent from the field. If the Hawks’ level of play keeps up, coach Mike Budenholzer might find himself on the hot seat.

Over the past 10 games, the Hawks have been outscored by 14.9 points per 100.

A battle between two shorthanded teams wound up being one of the most entertaining of the night. A veteran of four NBA teams, Troy Daniels hit his stride tonight with a career-high 31 points. The Lakers, meanwhile, enjoyed a 40-point showing from Lou Williams, who was a perfect 14-for-14 from the charity stripe. Check the highlights from Lou and Troy here:

Another example of the NBA’s sheer unpredictability: Dallas trounced the Bulls behind a 26-point showing from Wesley Matthews. Entering the game without Dwyane Wade or Doug McDermott, the Bulls’ offense was spearheaded by Jimmy Butler (26 points, nine rebounds). It’s tough to succeed, however, when three members of the starting five have a -22 Plus Minus or worse.

Mavs 57, Bulls 45 at half. Rajon Rondo (2 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist) is making the kind of impact he often did during his Dallas stint.

Gordon Hayward’s 32 points were the difference in Utah’s victory Saturday, besting Will Barton, Wilson Chandler (2o points apiece) and the Nuggets. After a sloppy 105-91 loss to Denver on Nov. 20, the Jazz have defeated their Northwest Division rivals twice (earning a 108-83 over Denver on Nov. 23).

Gordon Hayward scored 30 for the third straight game. Had 30 in 3 games last year. He is a different player.

Neither Damian Lillard nor C.J. McCollum were spectacular, but the Trail Blazers prevailed to earn their third win in their last four games. Allen Crabbe was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and Mo Harkless added 17 for Portland. Hassan Whiteside compiled an impressive double-double, but it’ll be difficult for Miami to compete with Dion Waiters, Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, and Derrick Williams all sidelined.

Nuggets rookie Jamal Murray is averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game but is showing more and improvement as the season goes along. On Sunday, Murray scored 18 points in 23 minutes and last night, the former Kentucky Wildcat scored a career-high 24 points in 22 minutes to help lead the Nuggets to a 110-107 win over the Bulls.

“It just takes one shot to have confidence,” Murray told ESPN after the game.. “It doesn’t take me long to get hot. I think every shot is going in. If I miss I don’t worry about it.”

Stephen Curry danced and shot his way to a game-high 33 points Thursday night in Denver, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 125-101 victory.

Kevin Durant’s string of 72 straight regular-season games with at least 20 points came to an end.

Rookie guard Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 14 points.

Per the AP:

Durant finished with 18 points. He remained tied with Michael Jordan for the fourth-longest streak of 20 or more points in league history.

“It was cool while it lasted,” said Durant, whose streak began on Nov. 23, 2015, while with Oklahoma City. “Up there with some great names. But I’ve got bigger goals in mind.”

Curry tweaked his ankle in a win over Dallas on Wednesday, but it didn’t appear to hamper him against the Nuggets. He finished 7 of 13 from 3-point range, including one that he turned into a four-point play. That shot even impressed him as he lay on the ground and celebrated. […] “One of those you don’t expect to go in,” Curry said. “But that was a terrible celebration.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-stephen-curry-torches-denver-for-33-points/feed/02016 NBAEDENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 10: Kevin Durant #35, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors high five to celebrate during the game against the Denver Nuggets on November 10, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Wilson Chandler Talks Nuggets, His Vegan Diet, Fishing and 2011 Knickshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/wilson-chandler-interview/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/wilson-chandler-interview/#respondThu, 10 Nov 2016 17:40:24 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=416088

After missing last season with a hip injury, Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler is back and taking on a leadership role with the young Nugs.

After missing last season with hip surgery, Wilson Chandler had a great summer. The Denver Nuggets forward spent his offseason switching up his diet, going vegan and spending time fishing, where he semi-famously caught a humungous grouper fish.

Now after getting back into the swing of things, Chandler re-joins the Nuggets as a 29-year-old veteran on a team full of early twenty-somethings with something to prove. Denver’s been one of the early surprises of the year sitting at 3-4 with recent road wins over the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chandler is averaging 15.7 points and 6.2 boards per game.

Chandler spoke with SLAM about his diet change, his return to the court after missing last season, going deep-sea fishing and that it was like to be traded by the Knicks in 2011.

SLAM: What inspired your choice to go vegan?

Wilson Chandler: I think it was just about being health-conscious and then I was just reading a lot and I watched a few documentaries. I watched Food, Inc., I watched GMO OMG. I kind of think I made that connection—that’s what inspired me.

SLAM: Was there anyone that you spoke to that you looked for advice on going vegan?

WC: Yeah, I had a friend in L.A. She had this service where she taught people the benefits of being vegan and just all about the GMOs in food, the benefits of the alkaline diet. So she kind of helped me a lot.

SLAM: What’s the best vegan meal you’ve had?

WC: Actually, right now, Detroit Vegan Soul in Detroit, Michigan. I’ve been here maybe eight or nine times and about to head over there right now to get a soul food platter. I also get a catfish sandwich made out of tofu.

SLAM: Is anyone on your team interested in going vegan?

WC: It’s like they want to know more, but they’re kind of like, ‘Ah, you’re vegan?’ and that’s about it.

SLAM: You have a diverse roster with Nikola Jokic from Serbia, Jusuf Nurkic from Bosnia, Danilo Gallinari from Italy and Emmanuel Mudiay from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Have you learned anything from being around that group of players coming from different countries?

WC: Yeah, it’s different. Nothing different in culture or vibe, but this year it’s different because we travel a lot together. It’s nice to be around guys like that because you learn more about the world, different countries and different cultures.

SLAM: You have more of a veteran role on this team. Do you find yourself helping the young guys on the roster adjust to the NBA?

WC: When you have guys from different countries, there’s always going to be a barrier in terms of language or just having a feel for the game. In-game, you always want to be a positive outlet for those guys.

SLAM: Was there anything that you can point to in terms of someone didn’t understand what was going on, or they had culture shock when trying to get adjusted to the NBA culture in America?

WC: I think with the traveling, how many games we play, the back-to-backs and four games in five nights, I think that’s a big adjustment for those guys. We play twice as many games [in the NBA]. I think they play maybe 25 or 30 games overseas. It’s a lot of wear and tear on your body, so diet and getting your rest is a big part of that.

I grew up fishing on the bank and on the rivers of Michigan, but not deep-sea fishing. That was only my third time going and it was great.

SLAM: I watched the video of you catching the grouper fish and there was a lot of talk of technique with your hips. Was the necessary technique when having to get such a big fish out of water the biggest surprise for?

WC: Yeah, definitely. Like you said the technique was crazy. You have to have it down pat just to be able to fish. The second thing is when they was telling me, ‘When you catch this fish, it’s going to be this hard, going to be this big.’ Even that doesn’t really prepare you because when it first hits the line, it’s crazy. You have to experience it, it was an adrenaline rush. I had a great time so I just want to do it a few more times in the offseason.

SLAM: The Nuggets are a young team that has shown a lot of improvement. Where do you think the team can go this year and in the future?

WC: I think we can be a really good team and competitive. I think we can make the playoffs. It’s just a situation where we gotta get the guys comfortable playing with each other, coach [Mike Malone] figuring out which lineups he’s going to go with, which lineups work best together.

I think it’s kind of figuring it out on both sides from the players standpoint and from the coaches and front office. I think once you get that figured out, then I think the sky’s the limit for the team.

SLAM: Do you really notice the change in the altitude in Denver as a road and home player? Is it an advantage?

WC: It’s a huge advantage. It’s not a myth, it’s real. I know a lot of people say it’s not real, but it’s definitely real. We’ve played numerous teams where guys are gasping for air and are tired by the third or fourth quarter.

SLAM: You were coming off of a missed season because of hip surgery. What was it like being away from the team and how hard was it and how do you prepare after missing the entire season?

WC: When something you love gets taken away from you it’s tough. You have to sit there watching and you can’t be a part of it, so just from that standpoint it’s super tough not being able to be around the team during the games. When you see the team struggling during a game and you know you can help in certain ways, it’s definitely tough.

Being back this year, it’s been a blessing. I’m still finding my rhythm, but being able to play with those guys and help them along the way has been great so far. So, hopefully we continue to build this year.

WC: I’ve always been a calm person since I was a kid. My grandma was calm, so I think a lot of that comes from her. I’m just kind of reserved, relaxed and I think it just comes from the way I grew up.

SLAM: Have you ever thrown someone like Kevin Garnett off of their game because you won’t react to their trash talking since you’re so reserved?

WC: Nah, not really. It’s kind of like the opposite, I’ve never been intimidated by ‘rah-rah’ guys. I respect KG, though, he’s one of the greatest players to ever play.

SLAM: What was it like playing for the Knicks?

WC: I miss playing there. Madison Square Garden alone is the greatest arena in the world. Being in New York, there’s energy in the people and the fans. They know a lot about basketball and how they react to the game is like on a whole ‘nother level. So I definitely have respect for it and I miss it sometimes.

SLAM: I always thought the team with Amar’e, Felton, Landry Fields, Gallo and coach D’Antoni was a lot of fun. Was it tough to be playing well individually and as a team and then to be traded in the middle of the season?

WC: Yeah, I mean we all know D’Antoni’s system. It was kind of perfect for the players that we had. Amar’e had played in it before and guys like Gallo and me flourished in [the systerm]. It was tough; it was my first time being traded from a situation that was working for me.

SLAM: Do you remember anything from getting that call about the trade?

WC: Yeah, I remember that whole day. It was kind of like the day we had gotten back from All-Star break. The gym was kind of quiet, the energy really wasn’t there. I don’t know if Amar’e missed a practice or if he had something to do, but he wasn’t at practice. It felt like a weird day. And then I went home and I was asleep. Then my girlfriend woke me up and she was like, ‘You just got traded to the Nuggets’ and then my phone had missed calls from my agent and the GM of the Knicks at the time.

Vince Carter lofted a high-arching and perfectly-timed pass to Marc Gasol, who gently guided the ball into the hoop for a dramatic 108-107 victory Tuesday night against the visiting Denver Nuggets.

Carter finished with 20 points and Gasol chipped in 19 for the Memphis Grizzlies, who put an end to a two-game skid.

Emmanuel Mudiay had 23 points and Danilo Gallinari added 21 for the Nuggets.

Per the AP:

“I had progressions, I had a couple of options, but I just had to be patient while still keeping the 5-second violation in mind,” Carter said. “It’s a stressful situation, but I’ve been in it before. I know how to relax and take my time.”

“The play was executed to perfection,” Carter said. “I just wanted to put it up there where only Marc could get it and let him take care of the rest.”

Gasol said the key to the play was the experience of Carter. […] “The guy guarding the inbounds pass jumped too early,” Gasol said. “That opened up the passing angle and Vince made a great pass.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-marc-gasol-tips-game-winner-vs/feed/02016 NBAEMEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 8: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball to win the game against the Denver Nuggets on November 8, 2016 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)WATCH: Emmanuel Mudiay Scores 24 Points In The First Quarterhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-emmanuel-mudiay-scores-24-first-quarter/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-emmanuel-mudiay-scores-24-first-quarter/#respondMon, 07 Nov 2016 03:05:42 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=415644

Emmanuel Mudiay and the Nuggets were on fire tonight against the Celtics.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-karl-anthony-towns-hangs-32-points-14-boards-denver/feed/02016 NBAEMINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a lay up against the Denver Nuggets during the game on November 3, 2016 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)WATCH: DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry Combine for 62 Points vs Denverhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-demar-derozan-kyle-lowry-combine-62-points-vs-denver/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-demar-derozan-kyle-lowry-combine-62-points-vs-denver/#respondTue, 01 Nov 2016 12:45:28 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=414862

DeMar DeRozan became the first Raptors ever to register three straight 30-point games to begin a season.

DeRozan became the first Raptors ever to register three straight 30-point games to begin a season.

Lowry added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in the win.

Per the AP:

Despite all that scoring, DeRozan quickly cut off comparisons to stars like Westbrook or New Orleans forward Anthony Davis, who each have a 50-point game already this season.

“Do you see what they were doing?” DeRozan said. “That’s video game numbers. It’s awesome just to … have your name in any type of conversation about elite, top players.”

DeRozan’s run of 30-point games is one shy of Mike James’ stretch from 2006 for the longest run at any point in the season. He’s also the first to start a season with three straight 30-point games without a 3-pointer since Kobe Bryant did it for the Lakers in 2005. […] Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay each had 16 points for Denver, and Jusuf Nurkic added 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.

Dikembe Mutombo was honored during last night’s Nuggets-Blazers game in Denver and had his jersey hung up in the rafters at halftime. Mutombo was drafted No. 4 overall by the Nuggets in 1991 and played five seasons with the team. The shot blocker’s number was also retired by Atlanta last season.

50 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals, five assists and four blocks from all-world big man Anthony Davis, and it still wasn’t enough for the New Orleans Pelicans, who fell 107-102 Wednesday night to the Denver Nuggets.

Davis’ statline is the first of its kind in NBA history.

Anthony Davis: 1st with 45 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals in ANY game since steals were recorded in 1973-74 (via @eliassports)

Jusuf Nurkic scored 23 points and Will Barton added 22 to lead the Nuggets to the season-opening victory.

Per the AP:

“When you play against a great player, you have a problem you need to answer: Are you going to shut him down and create problems elsewhere, or are you going to let him get his and hope nobody else goes off?,” (Denver coach Mike) Malone said.

“We gave them too many easy looks in the beginning of the game,” Davis said. “We gave ourselves a chance. We’ve just got to play like we played in the third and fourth quarter in the beginning of the game.” […] Davis didn’t get much help offensively. The rest of the Pelicans combined to shoot 21 of 58.

“I’m going to have to — probably not 50 every night — but try to get somewhere along those lines every game to give ourselves a chance,” Davis said.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/watch-anthony-davis-hangs-50-points-16-rebounds-denver/feed/02016 Getty ImagesNEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 26: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots over Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Smoothie King Center on October 26, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Believes He Was Blackballed for Refusing to Stand for U.S. Flaghttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/mahmoud-abdul-rauf-believes-blackballed-refusing-stand-u-s-flag/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/mahmoud-abdul-rauf-believes-blackballed-refusing-stand-u-s-flag/#respondFri, 09 Sep 2016 19:40:55 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=409372

Twenty years ago, Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the “Star-Spangled Banner”, and says he understands what Colin Kaepernick is going through during his own protest today. Abdul-Rauf changed his name from Chris Jackson when he converted to Islam; he maintains that the United States’ flag represents “tyranny and oppression” on a […]

For those who don’t remember, can you explain why you protested against the national anthem?

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: “Couple of reasons, actually. I couldn’t stand for a flag that represented tyranny and oppression. Not just from a domestic perspective but from a global one. It’s supposed to represent equality and justice for all, and I believe the flag is a symbol that’s supposed to represent the character of the people. When that character is not in line with what I believe in, then I’m opposed to that symbol. I couldn’t see myself standing and still can’t.”

Do you believe you were blackballed because of your stance?

AR: “When I really look at how it went down, yeah, because I was in my prime, and after the incident, my minutes went down. But you can’t just say, ‘we’re getting rid of him for that’—they had to create an environment where [it was] ‘let’s change his minutes, and let’s mess up his rhythm.’ A lot of things began to happen, so definitely that’s why my career was cut short.”

AR: “There was some support [for me]. Shaq [O’Neal] ended up saying something. Dikembe Mutombo, some of my teammates and Dale Ellis on one of the nights stood up in the opposite direction from where everyone had turned. The people who really knew me and had similar feelings voiced their support. But it’s not like it is nowadays, with the advent of social media. […] A lot of people when I was coming up—you can’t call it support [because] it was more like anonymous support—supported me but, for their own reasons, just didn’t have the strength to come out, and I understand it. Not that I agree, but people think of themselves and [their] families and how that can affect it. This is why Kaepernick says it’s bigger than football. This is why we love those from the past—the Muhammad Alis, the Paul Robesons. Those who stood up for principles.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/mahmoud-abdul-rauf-believes-blackballed-refusing-stand-u-s-flag/feed/0This content is subject to copyright.15 Mar 1996: Point guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets stands in prayer during the singing of the National Anthem before the Nuggets game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Abdul-Rauf came to an agreement withDanilo Gallinari Says He Refused to Be Traded from Denverhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/danilo-gallinari-says-refused-traded-denver/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/danilo-gallinari-says-refused-traded-denver/#respondMon, 05 Sep 2016 14:20:27 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=408939

When approached by the Nuggets about relocating prior to last February’s trade deadline, Danilo Gallinari reports that he turned the opportunity down. The Boston Celtics and LA Clippers were said to be interested in the 28-year-old’s services. Gallo: Declined to be traded at deadline https://t.co/dzyylriASG — Denver Stiffs (@denverstiffs) September 4, 2016 Gallo says he’s […]

Per Denver Stiffs (via multiple European publications, and some rough translations):

On the market and the opportunity to return to Europe

“In Denver I am very well, there was a chance last year to go to some other team before the deadline in February, but I refused. If I return to Italy would be back to Olympia but with the intention of winning, I don’t like the idea of nostalgic revisiting.”

“I’ve been in the United States for eight years, this will be my ninth season in NBA, I consider myself fortunate to have realized the dream of all children who play basketball. Now my goal is to win something in Denver, I’ve played there for five years now and I love it. I am very well and I hope to win with the Nuggets. Although ‘Super Teams; are now fashionable such as Golden State and Cleveland, to win in Denver this season will be very difficult for everyone.”

The Denver Nuggets sent big man Joffrey Lauvergne to the OKC Thunder, in exchange for two protected 2017 second round draft picks, it was announced Tuesday. News: Thunder acquires forward Joffrey Lauvergne. https://t.co/7Bxq19paAF pic.twitter.com/nEwLASmcs1 — OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 30, 2016 Lauvergne, 24, appeared in 83 games during two seasons in Denver, putting up averages […]

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nuggets-trade-joffrey-lauvergne-okc-two-picks/feed/02016 Getty ImagesDENVER, CO - APRIL 5: Joffrey Lauvergne #77 of the Denver Nuggets looks to get off a shot against Randy Foye #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Pepsi Center on April 5, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 124-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Q+A: Steve Hesshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/qa-steve-hess/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/qa-steve-hess/#respondWed, 20 Jul 2016 20:07:10 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=404397

The Nuggets' strength coach on how he trains NBA athletes, his journey to the League and more.

After coming to the states and graduating from Ithaca College by way of South Africa, Steve Hess had no clue what was going to happen with his life.

All he knew was that his career had to involve health and fitness. His energetic personality and passion for making other people better landed him a job as the strength coach for the Denver Nuggets.

We sat down with the man with the badass accent to talk about training and his time in the Mile High City.

SLAM: How did you get into being a strength coach?

Steve Hess: Luck. Luck. Pretty much luck. I finished my undergraduate degree and I moved back to Colorado and I was a head trainer at a specific gym. The general manager for the Nuggets came in and was like, “We want to hire a part-time strength coach who won’t work underneath you,” and I’m like, Hell man, I’m getting this job. And my wife’s like, “What do you know about basketball?” I’m like, Very little, but I’m getting this job. I proceeded to call the general manager, assistant general manager, athletic trainer every day for two months and I ended up getting the job. So right place, right time and I kind of went from there.

SLAM: Take me through a Steve Hess workout.

SH: Here’s the premise of everything I do, I believe we all have an energy and I honestly believe if we’re going to facilitate your workout in the realm of what it is you need, I’m specifically designing it for you. This has got absolutely unequivocally nothing to do about me, it’s all about you. The first thing we have to understand is that we’re designing this workout, determined 100 percent about your body and your specific goals. Again, I’m not talking about the athletes, I’m talking about you. You’re going to walk into my world and it’s all about you. So I’m going to have a really good look at how you function. I’m going to do my best to analyze the specificity of what you have available to you. Then I’m going to slowly build you up. I want to create a huge benefit of what you have available. Build on that. Get you going. Get you excited. If you start telling me about your girlfriend, I don’t want to hear about it [laughs]. We’re here to do one thing. We’re here to train. I’m just 100 percent concerned about you getting better. Within the realm of that, in order for you to get better, you have to participate.

SLAM: What’s your relationship like with the athletes then?

SH: They freaking hate me [laughs]. When we we have a specific task at hand, we’re taking care of that. I’m spending more time with my players than I do with my wife and my kids and they’re a part of my family. Am I receptive to certain things? Absolutely. I feel like I have an amazing relationship with my athletes.

SLAM: Why do you say they hate you?

SH: No they don’t [laughs]. I took them up to Manitou Springs, which you go from up 3,000 feet. It’s ridiculous. It’s one of the toughest workouts ever. I had them do intervals initially. By the third interval they’re like, “Dude, really?” By the end of their workout I had definite hate. I actually took my son up there to do it with us and when your son’s not talking to you, it kind of boils down [laughs]. I actually did it, but I walked the whole thing and halfway through doing it, I thought I was going to die.

SLAM: How do you differentiate workouts, let’s say, between Emmanuel Mudiay and Wilson Chandler?

SH: Emmanuel comes in and he has specific limitations. In the realm of those limitations is that the weakness in the system, we try to create better range to get rid of the weakness. All players have different limitations. Their ability to do specific things varies. The number of injuries varies. The number of years varies. We take an abundantly different look at what it is we’re dealing with. I wouldn’t have Wilson over 7 percent body fat. I wouldn’t have Emmanuel over 6 percent body fat. We’ve had some bigs where I wouldn’t put them under 9-10 percent. There’s no necessity to get them there.

SLAM:Have you met with any of the rookies yet?

SH: No, not yet. I’m excited. Jamal Murray, he’s a beast. I’m so excited to meet him. Yes, I have actually. My man from Spain (Juan Hernangomez). He came in for a workout and he’s geeked. Rudy Fernandez hit me up and was like, “Look, you better take care of my guy.” So, yeah I’m excited. We’re going to create a beast. As soon as I get back, they’re going to be with us all the way through Summer League. I know [Malik] Beasley had a rod put in his leg, but no worries. We’ll get through that and we’ll just smash it.

SLAM: So many players get bigger over the years than when they first started out? How do they make that happen?

SH: How old are you?

SLAM: Twenty-one.

SH: Do you look different than you did when you were 15?

SLAM: Well, yeah I do.

SH: They’re rocking in at 18. They’re kids. There’s only one man child that came in at 18 that took off his shirt and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re a beast.’ That’s Amar’e Stoudemire. A lot of it is maturity. As your body matures, you put on more muscle. If your nutrition is keyed in and if your supplementation is keyed in… To go back for a second, that’s why I love MET-Rx. They’ve been around 25 years. They listen to the things we talk about and they create products, which are usable and amazing. They’re used to supplement your nutrition.

SH: MET-Rx has everything. In the predominance of everything we’re trying to do with athleticism, MET-Rx is behind us 200 percent. We are 100 percent fully, fully, fully, fully committed to the fact that the majority of your nutrients come from your food. Your macronutrients and your micronutrients.

SLAM: Do you have to get on the guys in the summer?

SH: Come on, bro. Seriously? Let me ask you a question. It’s 6 o’clock in the morning. Would you want to come work out with me?

SLAM: Hell no.

SH: I absolutely have to get on them, but that’s my gig, man. If everyone was inspired, that would be the worst. Half of my job is getting wired.

The Nuggets are bringing back veteran sharpshooter Mike Miller on a two-year deal reportedly worth about $6 million. Free agent Mike Miller has agreed to a two-year, $5M-plus deal to return to Denver, league sources tell The Vertical. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2016 Miller, 36, was acquired by Denver last season. He appeared […]

Miller, 36, played last season in Denver after spending four of the previous five seasons alongside close friend LeBron James in Miami and Cleveland.

The long-distance specialist and former NBA Rookie of the Year is so well regarded in Denver that he was central to the Nuggets’ recent free-agent recruitment of Dwyane Wade, who opted to sign with the Chicago Bulls instead.

The Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade are parting ways after 13 seasons. Wade, 34, has reached a two-year deal with the Bulls. While I was on air, Bulls confirm 2 years and $47.5 million for Wade — Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) July 7, 2016 All-Star Jimmy Butler and newcomer Rajon Rondo have been recruiting the future […]

Wade plans to return to his childhood home, where he idolized Bulls icon Michael Jordan as a young boy and moved on to become an All-American at Marquette and a 12-time NBA All-Star with Miami. […] Wade joins a reshaped Bulls lineup that will include Rajon Rondo at point guard and necessitate the move of All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler to small forward.

Acrimony over contract talks – and a feeling that the Heat no longer appreciated him – fueled Wade’s decision to leave Wednesday, league sources said.

After meeting with Miami owner Micky Arison on Wednesday in New York, the Heat were unwilling to add a third year to their contract offer to Wade, league sources said. The offer was comparable to Chicago’s, but Wade ultimately decided to leave the franchise with which he had become synonymous during a run for three championships that included partnerships with Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade’s 13-year relationship with the Miami Heat appears to be at a crossroads, and rival teams are swooping in with offers for the future Hall of Famer. To date, the Denver Nuggets appear to be the only franchise willing to meet the 34-year-old free agent’s contractual demands. Wade will reportedly meet with the Nuggets […]

Wade has traveled to New York for meetings that will include Denver president Josh Kroenke, general manager Tim Connelly and coach Michael Malone, league sources said.

Wade’s acrimonious discussions with the Heat have led him to taking the next step with interested teams, which could turn out to be a way for the 12-time All-Star to leverage a third guaranteed contract year out of Miami – or the beginning of the end of his 13-year, three-NBA-championship run with Miami. […] The Nuggets have been aggressive in pursuit of Wade, offering a two-year, approximately $52 million contract, sources said.

The Chicago Bulls have maintained significant interest in Wade and may still decide to join the Nuggets in New York for a meeting with Wade, league sources said.

Dwyane Wade is the biggest free agent name still on the board this summer, and with Kevin Durant bolting to Oakland, all eyes are on what the Miami Heat superstar will do. Wade, 34, is reportedly telling teams that he won’t settle for less than $50 million over two seasons. Wade looking for 2-year, $50M […]

The Milwaukee Bucks, who were only in a position to clear about $17 million in cap space, are currently not in the bidding. Wade canceled a planned meeting with the Bucks, sources said.

Though there have been rumors that Wade is talking to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there is no traction between the parties, sources said. The Cavs currently have no cap space and could only offer their $3.4 million mid-level exception.

The Miami Heat are still very much in the Dwyane Wade derby—the 13-year veteran guard has reportedly been offered a two-year deal worth $40 million to return to South Beach (the second year being a player option.) Heat has offered Wade 2 years, $40 million with a player option in second year. — Dan Le […]

This is the second consecutive summer in which Wade and the Heat have had a rocky time finding common contractual ground, and the issue this time could be more about the length of the deal than the compensation. Wade has left millions on the bargaining table in past negotiations with the Heat, though some of that sacrifice also helped him win championships in 2012 and 2013.

A three-year deal would obviously help him recoup more of what he’s given up in the past.

Wade has spent all 13 of his NBA seasons in Miami and has said several times that he wants to spend his entire career with the club. Wade averaged 19.0 points and 4.6 assists this past season, and was an All-Star pick for the 12th time.

But it was the 7-year vet’s wish to remain in Denver, where he had one his most productive seasons as a pro last year.

From the Denver Post:

Arthur was the Nuggets’ primary focus in free agency. And returning to the Nuggets was Arthur’s primary focus. While his new contract gives him a nice bump in pay to an average of $7.6 million after making $2.8 million last season, Arthur also did the Nuggets a huge favor by taking $2 million less per season than he may have gotten on the open market.

The Washington Wizards, among other teams, were interested in signing Arthur.

To no one’s surprise, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming will be the headliners at this year’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement, it was announced Monday. Congrats to the #16HoopClass! pic.twitter.com/LMMvf86XcI — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 4, 2016 Joining Shaq, The Answer and Yao in the HOF are 27-year NBA referee Darell […]

Joining Shaq, The Answer and Yao in the HOF are 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, the first African-American coach in a professional league John McLendon and four-time WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes.

The party will take place September 8-10 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

From the press release:

Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected four directly elected members. They include Zelmo Beaty from the Veterans Committee, Yao Ming from the International Committee, Cumberland Posey from the Early African American Pioneers Committee and Jerry Reinsdorf from the Contributor Committee.

To be elected, North American and Women’s Committee finalists must receive 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Direct elect committees are incorporated into the election process to maintain a strong focus on keeping history on the forefront of the voting procedures and to preserve a balance between two eras of basketball.

“The Class of 2016 is big in stature, personality and impact,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. “These ten inductees have each contributed to the game in their own meaningful way and we are very pleased to honor them in Springfield.”

Behind 23 points from Dennis Schroder, Atlanta got the W in the second half of the home-and-home series with Washington.

Bucks 104 (30-42), Cavs 113 (51-20)

LeBron James led Cleveland with 26 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on his 24th birthday. Bron added several highlight jams, but none better than this two-handed reverse:

https://vine.co/v/ipnHdFIg1E5

Raptors 79 (48-22), Celtics 91 (42-30)

Boston avoided the season sweep by pulling away from the Kyle Lowry-less Raptors in the second half. Isaiah Thomas finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-17 shooting and was impressive getting into the paint.

https://vine.co/v/ipnMIHX7LVL

Magic 102 (29-42), Pistons 118 (38-34)

Andre Drummond dropped 30 points and 14 rebounds as Detroit moved into the final playoff spot in the East.

Knicks 115 (29-43), Bulls 107 (36-34)

Kristaps Porzingis matched his career high with 29 points and added 10 rebounds to snap the Bulls’ three-game winning streak. The 7-3 rook threw down one of his best poster dunks of the season on Pau Gasol:

https://vine.co/v/ipnlnKu3xI3

Niko Mirotic scored a career-high 35 and tied the Bulls record with 9 treys.

Jazz 89 (35-36), Rockets 87 (35-37)

Houston blew an 18-point lead as James Harden missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have tied the game. Derrick Favors’ dunk with 1.6 seconds left gave the Jazz the go-ahead bucket.

Kings 104 (27-44), T-Wolves 113 (23-48)

Karl-Anthony Towns led Minny with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins contributed with 23 each. Wiggins added a dunk over another 7-footer to his collection of posters as well:

https://vine.co/v/ipnTLjtx2Wh

Heat 88 (41-30), Spurs 112 (60-11)

San Antonio is now 36-0 at home this season after handing Miami an emphatic defeat. Kawhi Leonard tied a career high with 32 points, but left early with a right knee contusion.

“It was in the back of our minds, for sure,” James said of the 122-101 drubbing against his former team. “You just can’t erase a performance like that. No matter if it was our fifth game in seven nights, we just didn’t bring it the way we should and tonight we responded very well.”

Will Barton scored 27 for the Nuggets, who concluded a 1-4 road trip. Denver’s Kenneth Faried missed his third straight game with a sore lower back.

“It was embarrassing,” Malone said. “An embarrassing effort. A very good team, obviously, a team that went to the finals, but I thought in the second half we quit. I haven’t seen that from our team most of the year. I’m very disappointed with that. I did not like our effort, out focus, our intensity and our fight for 48 minutes.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/media/slam-tv/watch-axel-toupane-scores-first-nba-points/feed/0SLAMonlineDanilo Gallinari Out for an ‘Extended Period of Time’http://www.slamonline.com/nba/danilo-gallinari-out-for-an-extended-period-of-time/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/danilo-gallinari-out-for-an-extended-period-of-time/#respondMon, 29 Feb 2016 19:40:31 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=389287

Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone reports that forward Danilo Gallinari will be sidelined until at least mid-march due to a severely-sprained right ankle. Denver's Danilo Gallinari tore two ligaments in his right ankle, team says. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) March 1, 2016 The Nuggets are embarking on a seven-game homestand starting tonight, and Malone […]

The Nuggets are embarking on a seven-game homestand starting tonight, and Malone expects Gallo to miss all of it.

Gallinari, 27, is putting up a career-high 19.5 points through 53 games.

Per the Denver Post:

“I feel bad for him. He was having a career year,” Malone said. “It’s always tough when you lose a player like Gallo for us because we’re so young and he gives us so many things. But just for him, as a young man, because that’s a lot to handle and for him to hurt it and be out for a long period of time, it’s not good for any of us. But we’ll support him in every way we can and hopefully he can come back even better.”

Malone said Gallinari, who suffered the injury in a game Friday at Dallas, had an MRI on Saturday. […] That result confirmed a sprained ankle, but it didn’t hold much “good” news beyond that.

“He got to meet with the doctors and kind of confer on what’s the best course of action,” Malone said. “And then just do as much rehab as possible”

People on the Internet got all fired up this weekend over a Phil Jackson tweet—The Zen Master wrote that Stephen Curry reminded him of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and the sports world lost its collective mind. Jackson clarified Monday morning that he wasn’t comparing the two guards’ careers, just that Curry’s style of play evokes memories of […]

People on the Internet got all fired up this weekend over a Phil Jackson tweet—The Zen Master wrote that Stephen Curry reminded him of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and the sports world lost its collective mind.

Jackson clarified Monday morning that he wasn’t comparing the two guards’ careers, just that Curry’s style of play evokes memories of the explosive former Denver Nuggets PG.

Never seen anything like SCurry? Remind you of Chris Jackson/ Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who had a short but brilliant run in NBA?

The Bulls, of course, were the team of superlatives. But the Nuggets found a way to beat them in the most emotional game at McNichols Sports Arena since Game 6 of the 1993 Western Conference semifinal series against Utah, when the Nuggets pushed that series to a seventh game. […] Beat them? Hell, for one half they humiliated them, toyed with them, made them look like an expansion team. Why, the Nuggets never led the Toronto Raptors or the Vancouver Grizzlies by 31 points when they beat them this season. But they enjoyed such an advantage on the Bulls after only 21 minutes.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, not Michael Jordan, looked like the unstoppable guard. Abdul-Rauf scored 23 in the first half and made 9 of 15 shots, three of them from long range. […] Jordan? He was 3 for 11 in the half.

Oh, sure. The Bulls staged a great comeback. Even regained the lead in the fourth quarter. With Jordan around, everyone inside Big Mac was just waiting for the explosion, including the Nuggets. And Jordan didn’t disappoint, scoring 22 in the third period, when the Bulls made the Nuggets pay for their first-half arrogance. […] Chicago trimmed Denver’s 25-point halftime lead to two in the quarter, but that served only to make Denver’s unlikely win that much sweeter.

https://vine.co/v/i6IjDbKVwtl Ay yi yi. In a critical moment of Friday’s game, Raymond Felton caught the Nuggets asleep at the wheel with a game-tying layup at the end of regulation. The kicker: Dallas would go on to take a 122-116 victory in overtime.

Ay yi yi. In a critical moment of Friday’s game, Raymond Felton caught the Nuggets asleep at the wheel with a game-tying layup at the end of regulation. The kicker: Dallas would go on to take a 122-116 victory in overtime.